Patrick Woodcock: Art as Sacred Practice
“For me, spirituality and salvation are only attainable through the creation or consumption of art. ” ~Patrick Woodcock, poet Continue reading Patrick Woodcock: Art as Sacred Practice
Tag: Kurds
In Conversation With Patrick Woodcock, Part III
Wanda Waterman Volume 22 Issue 17 2014-04-25 Patrick Woodcock uses poetry to document the suffering of humanity in war-torn countries—a kind of poetic nonfiction. (See Voice review of Echo Gods and Silent Mountains: Poems, his book of poems based on his time in Iraqi Kurdistan.) Recently he took the time to answer Wanda Waterman’s questions about his formal and informal education and some of the close calls he experienced in Iraq. (Also read the first and second parts of this interview.) Unwitting Mentors As with many poets, university wasn’t a great fit for Patrick, who openly admits to having despised … Continue reading In Conversation With Patrick Woodcock, Part III
In Conversation with Patrick Woodcock, Part II
Wanda Waterman The Voice Magazine, Volume 22 Issue 16 2014-04-18 Patrick Woodcock uses poetry to document the suffering of humanity in war-torn countries— a kind of poetic nonfiction. (See Voice review of Echo Gods and Silent Mountains: Poems, his book of poems based on his time in Iraqi Kurdistan.) Recently he took the time to answer Wanda Waterman’s questions about literary forms, his childhood, and the conditions that enabled him to embark on so many remarkable adventures. (You can read the first part of this article here.) A Blessed Childhood Patrick credits his parents for preparing him for the unusual … Continue reading In Conversation with Patrick Woodcock, Part II
Poetic Nonfiction in Iraqi Kurdistan
Poetic Nonfiction in Iraqi Kurdistan Book: Echo Gods and Silent Mountains Author: Patrick Woodcock Publisher: ECW Press “From being mere labels for material objects, words gradually turn into magical charms. Out of a catalogue of material facts is developed–thanks to the efforts of forgotten primitive geniuses–all that we know today as ‘poetry’.” – Owen Barfield A guide leads the poet to a small rectangular hole. They climb down to see where the Kurds hid, four families to a cave, when Saddam Hussein was bombing them. It smells terrible, it’s dark and dank and teeming with bugs. Although the bombing has … Continue reading Poetic Nonfiction in Iraqi Kurdistan
The Mindful Bard 