The Jug Choir
Mixed media on calico

The Jug Choir

Sing into these Bellarmine jugs
daubed with faces of bearded men,
‘Witch Bottes’, the body of the male vessels filled with urine,
bent nails and votive cloth hearts,
to cause pain to any ‘witch’ that poses a threat.

What colours of song?
Ritual embedded in acts of violence.

2019 Paul Brookes

 

By Jay Gandhi

The Jug Choir

Bring me the washtub, the washboard, spoons
some bones a jug and a lyre
It is time to blow with the jug choir
A relic from Sirkap Valley
a precious pitcher from Taxila
a blue jar from old Jaulian
Adding  to all these, the Ozark Harp
would make all the A,G,C, minors, sharp
unique antiquarian rhythm with Indo-Pak alap

2019 © CER     Anjum Wasim Dar