world cup poetry #4...

June 15, 2010

Brazil defeated North Korea 2-1. Brazil prevailed in this one, but it was not an easy match for the North Koreans, who did not give up.

Lêdo Ivo, poet from Brazil, below:

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Jang Jin Sung, poet born in North Korea, below. Sung defected from North Korea. An interview with Sung below:

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June 15, 2010

New Zealand vs Slovakia 1-1. New Zealand tied Slovekia in injury time, costing the Slovakian team 3 points.

An article on Slovakia in New European Poets below.

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James K. Baxter, known as New Zealand’s greatest poet below:

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June 15, 2010

Portugal vs Ivory Coast @ Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium. This was a scoreless match between Portugal and Ivory Coast.

Fernando Pessoa, Portuguese poet, introduced below.

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Dry Your Tears, inspired by novelist/poet/playwrite from The Ivory Coast, Bernard Dadie, here:

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June 16, 2010

South Africa vs Uruguay @ Loftus Versfed Stadium

Oswald Mbuyiseni Mtshali, South African poet, who wrote in English and Zulu is introduced below by Barini Saana Ngaage:

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Mario Benedetti, who died last year, was one of Uruguay’s and Latin America’s best known poets. He is introduced below

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June 16, 2010

Honduras vs Chile. Chile defeated Honduras 1-0, tying Switzerland for the lead in Group H.

Poetry from Honduras introduced below:

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Pablo Neruda, Chilean poet introduced below:

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Switzerland pulled off the biggest surprise in the first round with its 1 to nil victory over Spain.

The Swiss cascade and castle that inspired poem here:

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Autobiography from Carl Spitteler, Swiss poet, Nobel Prize winner, here:

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Links to Federico Garcia Lorca, Spanish poet, who was born June 5, 1898.

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June 17, 2010

France vs Mexico @ Peter Mokaba Stadium. In 6 prior World Cup matches, France won five times and tied once against Mexico. Mexico was due this time around and upset the French 2-0. Javier Hernandez and Cuauhtemoc Blanco scored for Mexico. Hernandez’s father and grandfather had been members of Mexican World Cup teams in the pants. Hernandez’s grandfather Tomas Balcazar, scored against France in 1954. Cuauhtemoc Blanco became the first Mexican soccer player to score in three separate World Cup appearances.

Two French poets, Joseph Julien Guglielmi and Jacques Prevert, introduced below:

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Two Mexican poets, Coral Bracho and Briceida Cuevas Cob, introduced below:

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June 17, 2010

Greece defeated Nigeria 2-1, keeping them in the hunt to advance to the next round. Nigeria had a 1-0 lead, but played a man down after one of their players lost their cool and was red-carded.

Greek poet, Sappho, called the tenth muse by Plato, here:

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Poetry by Nigerian poet, Niyi Osundare, below:

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June 17, 2010

Argentina blew out South Korea 4-1 in this match, which was highlighted by 3 goals from Gonzalo Huguain. This was the first hat trick of this World Cup. However, South Korea remains alive to advance to the next round. South Korea need to defeat or tie with Nigeria and hope that Argentina can defeat Greece in the last matches in this group.

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Translation of Argentinean poet, Carlos Bugarin, here

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Kim Hyesoon, South Korean poet, below:

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