“The stars move still, time runs, the clock will strike, the devil will come, and Faustus must be damned.” -Christopher Marlowe

All things come to pass. In as much as we think we control what happens in our lives, most things, if they are to happen, simply will. Ours is the choice between fighting against this ever-moving tide or allowing it to sweep us along without resistance. That is not to say we should not do things to ensure we keep our heads above water – on the contrary, there are many ways in which we can influence the course of things. But in the end, we must accept and endeavor to embrace our fates.

Craig Santos Perez spoke to us from Hawaii where he lives on the island of Oahu. For the balance of a year, he has been sheltering in place along with his family as the pandemic continues. A writer, poet, and English professor, the circumstances have proven stressful both professionally and personally. During this time, Perez had a book of eco-poetry, titled Habitat Threshold, published and has been participating in virtual readings and publicity events. In the classroom, Perez teaches his students eco-poetry, a genre that speaks to the challenges we face as organisms on a troubled planet. To hear more about this, including how the pandemic fits neatly into the genre, listen to the complete interview.

 

Sutthirat Supaparinya lives and works in Chang Mai, Thailand. She reports that the pandemic began quite slowly in Thailand but by late spring things had become more difficult. Through the summer it slowed again, but as in many other parts of the world, as winter approached things became worse and now the nation finds itself in partial lockdown. Supaparinya has seen many of her upcoming projects either postponed or moved online. Some have changed entirely. As the pandemic lingers on, the artist has been invited to join various online collaborative projects. Supaparinya finds this time personally challenging in many ways. She recently lost her father who was in ICU where she was unable to visit him before he passed away from COVID. In her grief, she finds it difficult to continue her work at pace. Adding to her grief, the political situation in Thailand is a challenge. To hear more from Sutthirat Supaparinya, listen to the complete interview.