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New Life, New Views

In March 2012, Kurdish poet Choman Hardi had just had her first child, and reflected upon how children help us to see things in a different, more positive light.

In March 2012, Kurdish poet Choman Hardi had just had her first child, and reflected upon how children help us to see things in a different, more positive light in 'New Life, New Views'.

Choman recalls her return to Iraq to research the effects of the gas attacks by Saddam Hussein's forces against Kurdish villagers and the torture of her brother. And she explains how, through her daughter, she hopes to make a new beginning in a broken world.

Choman reads her own poem, 'My Children', which looks at the way children adapt to new life more easily than their parents, taking on adopted homelands with shocking ease. The programme also includes a beautiful Kurdish lullaby accompanied on the harp and composed by the musician Tara Jaff. Choman talks to the Hungarian-born poet, George Szirtes, about the shift in life perspectives which he's experienced since the arrival of his grandchildren. He reads a poem on the subject, 'The pram in the hall', written especially for the programme.

A thoughtful and illuminating look at how children can help to bring hope and fresh perspectives after even the most difficult experiences.

Producer: Kim Normanton
A Loftus production for Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4

28 minutes

Last on

Sun 11 Sep 2022 23:30
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4

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The Moon in My Life

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The Window of Vulnerability

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Music Played

  • Trad.

    Old Kurdish Lullaby

    Performer: Tara Jaff

    • N/A - Recorded for the programme.

  • Tracy Chapman

    New Beginning

    • New Beginning.
    • Elektra.
    • B000002HKC.
    • 1.

  • David Bowie

    Kooks

    • Hunky Dory.
    • EMI.
    • B00001OH7O.
    • 5.

  • Claude Debussy

    Children's Corner: The Snow Is Dancing

    Performer: Daniel Estrem

    • Debussy on Guitar and Ukulele.
    • Magnatune.
    • B004RLNLJK.
    • 9.

  • Robert Schumann

    Scenes from Childhood

    Performer: Nicholas York

    • Classic Film Themes 4.
    • Castle.
    • MBS 0000421.
    • 32.

  • John Lennon

    Beautiful Boy, Darling Boy

    • The John Lennon Collection.
    • Parlophone.
    • B000002UUH.
    • 15.

Broadcasts

  • Sun 25 Mar 2012 06:05
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4
  • Sun 25 Mar 2012 23:30
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4
  • Sun 11 Sep 2022 06:05
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4
  • Sun 11 Sep 2022 23:30
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4