A poetic odyssey through time, memory, and mysticism
'Grand Plan', by Maja Herman Sekulić, [translated by Claudia Piccinno with a foreword by Dante Maffia], is a world poem. In this monumental collection, Sekulić creates an interior atlas stretching from Belgrade to Rome, from Princeton to Myanmar, suspended between ancient civilizations and modern pandemics. 'Love is the only project,' declares one of the key verses, and around this axis rotate family memories, historical traumas, and mystical revelations.
Style: Clear yet richly layered.
Each poem is a small vessel navigating time and consciousness. Sekulić shifts between lyrical and civic, autobiographical and mythological modes with natural ease. Her imagery is potent—the Super Moon observing war, jade dispelling nocturnal ghosts, the archaic Mother of Vinča carving the word Love.
Recurring Themes:
• Loss of identity: Fragmented genealogies, vanished nations, disappearing homes.
• Ancestral feminine strength: From the mother-father fusion in 'Daughter of Sisyphus' to the 'Madonna di Vinča', sacred and generative.
• Mysticism and Nature: The Danube as mother-river, rain as epiphany, the jungle as a cosmic womb.
• Memory and survival: Amid dictatorships, wars, and pandemics, the word endures— 'When the world collapses... pick up the pieces.'
A Total Work:
This collection bridges poetry and history, spirituality and politics, East and West. It sings and affects, caresses and screams. Sekulić's voice is, as Maffia notes, 'an expressive force that can give life to memories and make even the personal become universal.'
Tesla and I: Poetry and the Electricity of the Soul
Living within walls once occupied by Nikola Tesla in New York, Maja dances between past and present, matter and metaphysics, showing how poetry generates energy.
Open-hearted Analysis:
'On the top of the world I / in the poet's tower / up there / in the grey sky / let my thoughts come out / singing in a full voice'
These lines reflect an alchemy of solitude and elevation. Maja seeks to inhabit Tesla's mind—not to narrate it—but to feel and transmit its rhythm in verse:
'We live in his world / as he lives in my poetry.'
A Perfect Closing:
This is total symbiosis. We live surrounded by the world Tesla imagined; he lives eternally in Maja's poetry. 'Grand Plan' is a hymn to memory as a form of eternity—placing Maja Herman Sekulić alongside Leonard Cohen, Pasternak, and Patti Smith.
(Mauro Montacchiesi one of the leading Italian intellectuals, multi-talented and multi awarded author, ex-President of Art Academy of Rome)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Mahindra Racing's Kush Maini takes cricket quiz, reveals his IPL team allegiance
Kush Maini (Image credit: Instagram) Mahindra Racing's Indian Formula 2 champion Kush Maini is not just an impressive presence on the track but also well-versed in his country's favourite sport — cricket. The racer from Bengaluru recently took a cricket quiz and nearly scored a perfect 10/10, answering almost every question with precision. He is the only Indian to have won a Formula 2 race in Monaco and recently delivered an impressive performance at the Berlin Rookie Test, finishing among the top three in both sessions. Kush Maini is a pro when it comes to cricket knowledge A video of Kush Maini's cricket quiz shows him getting momentarily confused with the first question, though he gave the correct answer initially. When asked about the number of players in a cricket team, he initially said 'eleven' but changed it to 'twelve' after counting the number of openers and following players. After that brief hiccup, Maini breezed through the quiz like a pro. He correctly answered questions about the criteria for a four and a six, and explained terms like LBW, duck, and clean bowled. He also knew the number of overs bowled in T20, One-Day, and Test matches. When asked which team Virat Kohli represents in the IPL, Maini confidently replied, 'RCB… that's me, can't get that wrong.' He also tackled a question about the British singer who joked about not understanding cricket despite coming from the country that invented it. Maini answered 'Ed Sheeran' — and was pleasantly surprised to learn he was right. He also knew that David Beckham was the English footballer who once played a friendly match with Sachin Tendulkar. Watch Kush Maini's candid video here . Who is Kush Maini? Kush Maini moved to England at the age of 13–14 to pursue racing. Originally from Bengaluru, he now spends more time abroad than in India. He became the first Indian to win the prestigious Monaco Grand Prix in Formula 2 earlier this year. He recently showcased his racing talent during the Berlin Rookie Test, representing Mahindra Racing. He finished second in the morning session and third in the afternoon. Speaking after the test, he said, 'In the morning, we focused on 350kW runs, and in the afternoon, more on race runs. Whatever the run, we were always in the top three and really fast, so a good step was made. Whenever I get into this car, I leave with a smile on my face. ' Also Read: Berlin Rookie Test standouts Gabriele Minì and Kush Maini share insights after impressive runs Maini continues to shine on the track and, following his impressive performance in Berlin, may even join Formula E one day. For real-time updates, scores, and highlights, follow our live coverage of the India vs England Test match here. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
K-Pop fan club 'Team Bunnyz' raise 51 Million to fight against online trolls targetting idols; land into legal trouble
According to Yonhap News Agency, a group of anonymous fans who call themselves "Team Bunnyz" decided to take matters into their own hands when they saw their favourite K-pop group being cyberbullied online. Their solution? Launch a fundraising campaign to hire lawyers and fight back against online trolls. Sounds noble, right? Well, not quite. In just 8 hours, these mysterious supporters managed to raise an eye-watering Rs 4.2 crores (51.22 million Korean won) through a simple social media post. However, they forgot one tiny detail - to register their fundraising campaign with authorities, as required by Korean law. When Fan Love Meets Legal Reality The Seoul Jongam Police Station recently forwarded a Team Bunnyz representative, identified only as "Mr. A," to prosecutors for violating Korea's donation laws. Under Korean legislation, any organization collecting more than Rs 82 lakhs (10 million won) in donations must register with relevant authorities beforehand. The penalty for skipping this step? Up to 3 years in prison or fines reaching Rs 2.46 crores (30 million won). by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like If You Speak English, You Might be Eligible for Online MBA Courses in USA MBA Courses in USA | Search Ads Undo The whole controversy started when a concerned netizen filed a complaint through Korea's national petition system, arguing that the fundraising was illegal. After checking with Seoul city authorities, they discovered that Team Bunnyz had indeed failed to file the necessary paperwork before launching their campaign. What makes this story even more intriguing is how Team Bunnyz operates like digital-age vigilantes. They describe themselves as "professional experts from various fields including law, media, finance, culture, and arts who support the girl group". Yet, nobody has ever seen their faces at public events - they truly live up to their comparison to Robin Hood-like figures. The Puppet Masters Team Bunnyz isn't just any random fan group - they've positioned themselves as power players in the K-pop industry's most dramatic corporate battle. The group's former creative director, Min Hee-jin, even publicly thanked them during a corporate event, saying they "appeared like Robin Hood" to help her during difficult times. But their activities have raised eyebrows even within the official fanbase community. Some legitimate fans felt compelled to clarify to the entertainment company that "Team Bunnyz doesn't represent the entire fandom's opinion". This internal conflict highlights how passionate K-pop fandoms can sometimes splinter when unofficial groups take extreme actions. Their controversial activities extend beyond fundraising. Team Bunnyz was involved in organising a pop-up store event for an instant noodle brand that the girl group endorses, collecting personal information including names, phone numbers, and email addresses from fans - another privacy concern that sparked debate. When Fandom Culture Clashes with Reality This incident reveals the complex dynamics of modern K-pop fandom culture, where passionate supporters sometimes cross legal and ethical boundaries in their enthusiasm to protect their idols. While the intention to combat cyberbullying is admirable, the execution showcased how even well-meaning fan activities can spiral into legal troubles when proper procedures aren't followed. The case also highlights the growing influence of organised fan groups in Korea's entertainment industry, where anonymous collectives can mobilise significant financial resources and legal action within hours. It's a phenomenon that would be unimaginable in most other entertainment markets globally. As this legal drama unfolds, it serves as a cautionary tale for fan communities worldwide: passion for your favourite artists should never override legal compliance and transparency. After all, the best way to support your idols is probably not by landing yourself in court!
Hans India
5 hours ago
- Hans India
Teja Sajja lights up screens with ‘Vibe Undi' from upcoming film ‘Mirai'
Riding high on the massive success of HanuMan, actor Teja Sajja is back in action, this time as Super Yodha in the highly anticipated film Mirai. Directed by Karthik Gattamaneni and produced on a grand scale by TG Vishwa Prasad and Krithi Prasad under People Media Factory, the film promises a visual spectacle. The teaser and initial glimpses have already generated buzz, and now the makers have released the lyrical video of the first single, Vibe Undi. The song is an energetic musical blast, driven by a vibrant arrangement of accordions, saxophones, and drums. Krishna Kanth's lyrics mix Telugu and English to capture both playful romance and vibrant emotion, perfectly aligning with the film's upbeat tone. Teja Sajja, known for his dynamic screen presence, impresses with stylish dance moves and electric energy. His on-screen pairing with Ritika Nayak adds to the charm, as their chemistry elevates the visuals, set in a sleek, futuristic urban backdrop. While Teja stuns with his fashionable look, Ritika brings glamour and grace. Vocals by Armaan Malik add another layer of appeal, striking a balance between melody and rhythm. The combination of contemporary sound and visuals with traditional undertones makes Vibe Undi a standout track likely to top charts. Mirai also stars Manoj Manchu in a fierce antagonist role, along with Shriya Saran, Jayaram, and Jagapathi Babu. The film is set for a grand theatrical release on September 5 in 2D and 3D across eight languages.
