The following is an interview with Canadian, Robert Consiglio, who is the founding member and President of Hiroshima's literary club,The Dead Parrot's Society.

"Ode To A Dead Parrot"
Lo! Tell me not that thou most noblest parrot hath fallen
into the eternal bliss of nothingness;
hath joined itself involuntarily with the Creation;
hathsublimated itself into the ash heap
of most glorious histories.
Oh! Such mortal tragedies; to be so mercilessly cut down
in the prime of its existence.
Never again to soar heavenwards towards the sun and the moon
and the glittering stars above¡Ä
Or to have it germaine gibberings tickle the ears of mere mortals.
Oh, for jolly goodness! The limen thing croaked.
- By Robert

What is the Dead Parrot's Society?

"The Dead Parrot's Society" is firstly a take on "The Dead Poet's Society", and is meant to conjure up images of secret liaisons of writers and poets reading inspiring poetry or sharing their own work. It is also meant to create a light-hearted "Pythonian" humorous bent towards the club and its doings. Many prospective writers and poets are quite shy and nervous about sharing their work with others, and we hope that this name will help them to feel more relaxed and laid back about sharing their work at our meetings.

Could you tell me a little bit about yourself?

I'm originally from Toronto, Canada. Since I graduated from university, I have been teaching English in Canada, Mexico, South Korea and Japan. Obviously, I enjoy teaching and experiencing foreign cultures. However, my greatest passion and joy has always been writing. Specifically, I am intensely interested in science fiction stories because I think they deal with the really important questions like where humanity is going, how technology will shape our lives, and our possible future amongst the planets and stars.
In reference to writers, I respect and enjoy Isaac Asimov, George Orwell, Jules Verne, and, of course, Tolkien.
Reading great literature, I believe, can act as a stimulus for your own creative works.

Why do you write?

I've always believed that writing has both a personal and social role. Like many people, I often feel powerless and helpless to control or influence societal attitudes, events or trends, but writing offers the outlet to express ones' deepest feelings, emotions and longings about this society, and to tap similar feelings and emotions from the hearts and minds of our readers. For myself, writing is a chance to critique and analyze our society and suggest possible alternative lifestyles or solutions to the world's problems, and, in this way, to create a social conscience in my readers.
Writing for me, as I think it is for everyone, is a liberating, exhilarating and cathartic experience that makes life more fulfilling.

Why did you start this club?

I started The Dead Parrot's Society primarily to create a milieu where writers and poets and literary types in Hiroshima could meet and share either their own work or their favorite literature in a friendly, supporting atmosphere. In this way, the artistic community in Hiroshima would feel encouraged and stimulated to create original stories and compositions for pleasure or publication.

What activities occur at your meetings?

First and foremost we try to encourage people to read their own original compositions to all the members. Then we critique/ discuss the contents of the piece and sometimes offer suggestions or ideas on how to improve it. Surprisingly, there are a wonderful variety of genres presented at our meetings, from poetry to short stories, to movie scripts and song lyrics. Although English is the main language used during our meetings, Japanese, Arabic, and other languages are also used.

The Dead Parrot's Society is a multicultural and eclectic international club. As a result, there are often many interesting and thought-provoking discussions at our meetings, which reflect the varying perspectives and world-views of the members.
I respect and admire our club's writers: Basim Furat, John Mensing and Masako Uchida (her poem "Paper Lantern" appears below). Basim is an Iraqi poet who now lives in Hiroshima. Basim's poetry, originally written in Arabic, is rich and truly exquisite. John Mensing is an American scholar of Buddhism. Masako writes extremely sensitive and thought-provoking poetry. Masako's poetry is particularly praiseworthy, since it is written in excellent English, her second language.
The Japanese members of the club especially admire old Japanese writers such as Akutagawa Ryunosuke and Izumi Kyoka. Also, they find inspiration in the poetry of Nakahara Ohuya and Hagiwara Sakutaro. All the members enjoy haiku by Basho and Saigyo.

What is your long-term vision for this club?

As for the club itself, I hope that members will have the opportunity to improve and hone their writing and communication skills. In addition, I envision a time when our club can sponsor book readings and poetry readings in various locations in Hiroshima city. More generally, I believe The Dead Parrot's Society can help stimulate and encourage the literary community in Hiroshima and beyond to write their own compositions and to find and express their own creative voice and nurture a greater appreciation of literature and literary works.

How do you feel about living in Hiroshima?

Hiroshima is a relatively clean, peaceful city that has a dynamic, exciting nightlife. I have a very young baby, so I particularly like Hiroshima's many scenic parks and open spaces to go 'baby strolling.' It's a good place to raise a young child.
Do you think you are influenced by Hiroshima in your writing?

Sure, many of my poems and songs have a strong anti-war bent to them, and they have no doubt been influenced by my living in Hiroshima, an international symbol of peace and nuclear disarmament.
As for where I enjoy writing most in Hiroshima, nowhere exotic or unusual really, just cafes or coffee shops. My favorite haunt being Excelsior Cafe on Hondori. I've always written more creatively and coherently when I'm in a crowded, bustling cafe and I've had at least two coffees.

Paper Lantern

(Refering to Hiroshima Peace Memorial ceremony)
The sun was still there lower on the horizon
Chirping cicadae were background
Heat climbed up from the concrete sidewalk to the body
The music and songs with feeling spread over the river
People were still like statues lined along the river

The river has the memory under the reflection
Radiation burned people with even genes of each cell in the air, in the river
Walking half-dead gathered into the river
Longing to the water, to the sanctuary
Though even the air over the river was burning
With wordless cry and smell of fried flesh

The river has the memory in the wave
Boats were jostling and pushing there
In which houseless people had lived
Survivors had lived with broken heart and pain
They have still heard the voices in their ears
"Mom, pain! Where are you?"
"Fire on my skin, give me water"

The river flows to the sea
Paper lanterns floated in waves
Flickered light in it brightened the color paper
Red, pink, blue, yellow, violet
People stood looking them like statue along the river

The sun had set without noticing
The lights in the paper lantern were brighter in the dark
Like souls who could live for a lifetime with sorrow and joy
If there were no war

by Masako

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