Last night we saw a staged reading of four works by Ukrainian playwrights at Austin’s Hyde Park Theatre. That tiny, scruffy performance space with its worn chairs and simple sets was the site of so many creative experiences during my early years in Austin. Stepping into it was like stepping into the past, an Austin I so rarely encounter now. As we walked to the car after the show, we passed the familiar sign of the Bookcase Store, now shuttered after 32 years. The ache of nostalgia for my younger self and younger city brought to mind this haiku by the Japanese master, Basho.
“Even in Kyoto
hearing the cuckoo’s cry —
I long for Kyoto”
This morning I put it in the box along with two of his poems for summer and asking the question, “What were the ancient warriors’ dreams?”
You can learn about the Worldwide Ukrainian Play Readings here.