"J'ai consacree le texte...."

said Habib Demba Fall yesterday. Yes, I know there should be an accent over the e in consacree - just don't know how to do it in Blogger. If you do, tell me please.

We were on a panel together: Poets in Dialogue, at Durban's ICESA Communications Campus. He was talking about his poem dedicated to the thousands of young Senegalese, devoid of hope for a future in their own country, who launch their bodies in flimsy boats onto the ocean separating them from Europe.

The sound of the words, the power and poignancy of them, melted into me like a taste, a phrase of music. I have consecrated the text...... It's an invocation one might make at the start of every new poem. Who do I consecrate this to?

Other lines that stayed with me:

Chirikure from Zimbabwe, on building a career as a poet: You have to make conscious decisions over and above your natural talent.

South African Haidee Kruger, on making each word work: As a poet, you put language through the laundry. You want it to come out fresh at the other end.