G by Klara du Plessis and Khayashar "Kess" Mohammadi

Gis a sound. Phonetically, it is represented as[]and corresponds to in the Arabic alphabeta guttural resonance shared between Afrikaans and Persian. Hinging on this mutual fricative sonically prominent in their respective languages, and a playful inclusion of homonyms across English, Afrikaans, and Persian, Klara du Plessis and Khashayar "Kess" Mohammadi composedGcollaboratively in a shared Google document, an act of hospitality into their languages. Amplifying common etymologies, but centering communication beyond the delimitation of verbal systems, this work stages a conceptual project of human interconnection through the metaphors of tongue, speech, and poetry as sound.Gbuilds on both poets' earlier translingual and translation work, including du Plessis' award-winningEkkeand Mohammadi'sMe, You, Then Snow.(From Palimpsest Press)

Klara du Plessis is a poet, academic and curator living between Montreal and Cape Town. Her other poetry collections include Ekke which won the Pat Lowther Memorial Award in 2019, and Hell Light Flesh which was adapted into a mono-opera at the 2023 International Festival of Films on Art.

Khayashar "Kess" Mohammadi is a queer Iranian poet and translator currently living in Toronto. They have published two other poetry collections: WJD in a double volume with TheOceanDweller and Me, You, Then Snow. The received the Vallum poetry Award in 2021 for their poem My City the City.