Habib at Kerry Park, Seattle

Thanks in part to a SICA grant to help facilitate the visit of Moroccan Poet and Beat Scholar, El Habib Louai, he spoke yesterday (8.11.13) at Spring Street Center to Subud Members and other attendees about the Beats in Morocco, the cultural milieu in Morocco during that time (late 50s, 60s) and shared some of his work, which included some of his impressions of the Northwest U.S.

I am grateful to SICA, the Subud International Cultural Association and to the Seattle Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs for helping fund Habib’s visit to Seattle and to Subud Greater Seattle for hosting the talk at their Spring Street Center.

Introduction to Habib’s talk, August 11, 2013, at Spring Street Center in Seattle. (3:18)

Habib’s Talk, Part 1 (19:57)

Habib’s Talk, Part 2 (22:20)

Q&A (21:00)

Longtime Subud member and writer Hadiyah Carlyle said: “Sitting in our Subud house, sitting around on comfortable chairs, we heard El Habib Louai, a Moroccan poet making analogies to the beat poets of my generation to the rebelliousness of his generation in his country.  El Habib talked about his travels, his life.  It was so refreshing to hear his poetry and about his life.  It was also great to have Subud members sitting around listening with “outsiders,” young and old taking it all in. I also noticed that members were talking to the visitors, everyone enjoying refreshments, after the performance.  What a great way to build community.  I hope we have more programs like this.”

Habib reading Kerouacian Epiphanies in the Portland Greyhound Bus Station with the Jim O’Halloran Quintet, August 10, 2013 at Bradner Gardens (9:56)

Habib and I also visited Sam Hamill and his daughter Eron in Anacortes last night (8.11.13) & Sam gave Habib several books, and showed him the book Habitations, a remarkable work of book art by Ian Boyden. It is a huge series of original paintings with Sam’s poems laser-etched into the work. Hear part of Sam’s impromptu reading here.