Poignant reminder that Anne’s life and work are living inspirations
Poetry and music: Sureka at the piano while (from left) readers Myrle, Manjula, Iranga, Purnima and Gehan listen. Pix by Indika Handuwala
An evening of poetry celebrating the work of renowned poet Anne Ranasinghe who died last year was organised by the English Writers Cooperative (EWC) on November 18 at the Goethe Institut.
Myrle Williams, Manjula Amerasinghe, Purnima Pilapitiya, Gehan Blok and Iranga Wickramasinghe read a carefully selected collection of poetry by Anne Ranasinghe, one of the founder members of the EWC, giving listeners a glimpse into the life of the celebrated German poet who made Sri Lanka her home after her marriage to a Ceylonese doctor.
An enraptured audience shared glimpses into the horrors of the holocaust and the ethnic riots in Colombo which Anne witnessed.
Well known for her poems of war and death – “A Long Hot Day” made us inwardly cringe, with a wave of melancholy washing over the listeners due to the dark visuals painted by her words. However, it was not all gloom- the audience was also given a peek at other facets of Anne’s life – as a mother, wife and dog lover.
“Jeremy” – a poem dedicated to her dog was a moving remembrance for man’s best friend whilst Anne’s shorter “A kind of Love Poem” elicited a collective chuckle for her frank account of love and marriage.
The readings were divided into three categories; Memories of her life back home in Germany, her Sri Lankan experience and her visits back to her past in Germany. Accompanied by live music from Sureka Amerasinghe, who has played for Anne in the past, the evening struck a chord with many listeners.
“She was a towering personality in the writing world,” chairperson of the EWC, Dr. Premini Amerasinghe said. Poet and author Ramya Jirasinghe – who first spoke to Anne 20 years ago when she received a call from Anne herself about a poem she had submitted to the EWC, summed up the essence of Anne’s work well. “She never lost her head but felt deeply from the heart.”
The evening was a poignant celebration reminding us that even in death Anne’s life and work is a living inspiration to all.