My Poetry Feast

So April is Poetry Month and though it is now coming to a close I think I celebrated in the best way, so far.  I have attended Patti Smith's The Poet Speaks, her Tribute to Ginsberg's poetry. I have even managed to hand her--via her daughter Jesse--a copy of my chapbook Nocturne (PulcinoEdizioni 2013) that is dedicated to her. Not to mention the surreal and almost poetic conversation after she left the stage door. I have heard Patti play the best version live ever of "Beneath the Southern Cross" and I have heard her talk about poetry like only a poet can do. Her advice was superb. I have written a few poems I am quite proud of. Long live Poetry! Long Live Patti!

Patti (copyright Luigi Orru)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9CEbAf-EHQ0

Tina Modotti: Photography on Fire

Tina Modotti's exhibit at the Auditorium could not have been a more poetic event, given the poem by Pablo Neruda decorating a wall of the hall and dedicated to the famous revolutionary photographer and written upon her (still mysterious) death in 1942. Tina did not want to be considered an artist but just a photographer and yet, her stills are so much more than photographs. Her black and white works are imbued with life, work, poverty, politics and truth. Vivid, raw and extraordinarily beautiful. A passionate civil canto in pictures, full of her fire and her brave heart.

Are You Celebrating World Poetry Day?

If not, you should! How? I have many ideas, so I'll gladly share some with you. Make this day special, since it is Poetry we are talking about!

1. READ POETRY. This is fairly easy. Grab a book and breathe poetry.
2. WRITE POETRY. Everyone is a poet, so do it!
3. BUY POETRY. Make yourself a present or buy a poetry book for a friend or a relative.
4. SHARE POETRY. Post poems or poetry quotes on social networks a/o hand poetry quotes at work!
5. LISTEN TO POETRY. Surf YouTube and enjoy listening to some poetry.
6. COLLABORATE WITH OTHER POETS. Organize an improvised reading or write something together.
7. PROMOTE A POET. Yes, please! Promote a poet you love.
8. DO SOMETHING POETIC. Enjoy the sunset. Take a walk in a wood or in the countryside. Love!
9. CHOOSE A LINE and make it your motto.
10. SEND ME A POEM. Your own or someone else's. I'll truly appreciate it!

He Was Born Murdered

It looks like writing sometimes fails me. I have tried to write a good amount of words on the WIP, today, but it didn't work as I wanted. Yet, this morning, out of the blue, I wrote a poem inspired by Federico García Lorca's murder. Images and words blended together in less than 2 minutes. I incorporated three of Lorca's lines in it, too. It amazes me how he had predicted his own death and that his body would be buried in a mass grave. The prescience of poetry? Or, the darkness of duende?

Then I realized I had been murdered...

They never found me?

No. They never found me.

Guerrilla Girl

I was not familiar with this picture of Patti Smith by Lynn Goldsmith. I truly love it. She is the perfect guerrilla girl in it. In Nocturne, my most recent published poem--and chapbook--that I dedicated to Patti, I compare her to Joan of Arc. Well, it looks like Lynn and I share the same point of view. Gotta love any woman & poet warrior!

Gregory Corso, Der Freischütz and Trastevere. On writing a poem.

Reading about Gregory Corso's stay in Rome a yesterday put me on a disposition for writing a poem having him as the lead character. I found the suitable backdrop in Trastevere by night and also found a perfect soundtrack in Weber's opera Der Freischütz (The Marksman). I wrote two stanzas in one go just a few minutes ago. I love whenever it happens. The Muse speaks to me and I go with the flow!

Lunch with the Brigade

Had lunch with the most poetical engaged Brigade you can think of! Rome's Revolutionary Poets Brigadistas Marco, Olga, Ludovica, Edoardo and myself met and discussed the new Anthology project. The anthology has a theme--specifically work--and we have now collected the poems which will be included in the book. Discussed topics were: who will write the introduction (we have a couple of worthy names in mind) and publishers to get in touch with. As always, it seems we always have a great, positive approach. Love that! Love working with such an amazing and enthusiastic group of poets!