Tuesday, May 24, 2016
Flamingos Converge in Gualala: A Conversation with Nine Women Writers
SOL 2016 Day 1 - Poem for Tania: Piazza della Rotunda
/
Today I begin the Slice of Life March Challenge, writing and posting every day this month. Wish me luck.
During the summer of 2015, my poet friend Tania Pryputniewicz of Feral Mom, Feral Writer began a poetry challenge with me. She began with giving me the task of writing a poem using the letter Z, one of my favorite letters for obvious reasons. Then I sent her a prompt of my own: write about a resting place. At the time, I was at rest on an Italian vacation, so relaxation was on my mind. It took a few months but, as requested, she finally wrote a poem. Tania's lovely poem, Meditation Garden, Encinitas inspired me, but in a way I didn't expect. Somehow it made my thoughts turn to Italy again.
One of my favorite places in the whole world (or at least the parts I've been to) is the Piazza della Rotunda in Rome. On every visit to that city, no matter how short, I always make my way there to sit at a table at the same cafe and dream I'm Roman. Here's poem about a slice of the life in that beautiful place.
Tania, now it's your turn to send me another challenge. You said you had a good idea for me. Send it my way.
During the summer of 2015, my poet friend Tania Pryputniewicz of Feral Mom, Feral Writer began a poetry challenge with me. She began with giving me the task of writing a poem using the letter Z, one of my favorite letters for obvious reasons. Then I sent her a prompt of my own: write about a resting place. At the time, I was at rest on an Italian vacation, so relaxation was on my mind. It took a few months but, as requested, she finally wrote a poem. Tania's lovely poem, Meditation Garden, Encinitas inspired me, but in a way I didn't expect. Somehow it made my thoughts turn to Italy again.
One of my favorite places in the whole world (or at least the parts I've been to) is the Piazza della Rotunda in Rome. On every visit to that city, no matter how short, I always make my way there to sit at a table at the same cafe and dream I'm Roman. Here's poem about a slice of the life in that beautiful place.
Tania, now it's your turn to send me another challenge. You said you had a good idea for me. Send it my way.
Piazza della Rotunda
oldest of the buildings
cradling the body
of this small piazza.
of this small piazza.
Tourists stream past
my café table under
my café table under
its orange umbrella,
orange drink in my hand.
We have all emerged
from our heat-addled naps.
Stroller wheels rattle
over cobblestones,
nuns in white habits
eat gelato scooped
from the corner stand.
Sunburned shoulders
peeking from skimpy tank tops,
girls huddle on fountain steps,
giggle and bubble
like the water behind them.
Their friend snaps photos,
Egyptian obelisk
their solemn backdrop.
Small brown men,
from the Phillipines
or Indonesia perhaps,
shoot shiny
toys into the air,
hoping one will land
near a child’s foot.
She might pick it up
and beg to keep it.
We all long
for bright tidings
for bright tidings
to soar over our heads
like birds, like stars
into Rome’s
blue-falling night.
Related Links:
Respective poems from the first challenge:
Write a poem using the letter Z:
Firenze Poem, For Tania from Italy by Lisa Rizzo
21 Zs for Lisa: Omen Hunting in Yo El Rey Roasting by Tania Pryputniewicz
Related Links:
Respective poems from the first challenge:
Write a poem using the letter Z:
Firenze Poem, For Tania from Italy by Lisa Rizzo
21 Zs for Lisa: Omen Hunting in Yo El Rey Roasting by Tania Pryputniewicz
Family Respite: Salmon and a Poetry Challenge
/
These past two weeks I've been in Portland, mostly helping my 88-year old parents. In the midst of a heatwave that has kept temperatures above 90º for over a week, it has not been easy to keep my spirits up. I know I'm in a situation shared by many others my age, but sometimes that knowledge doesn't help. When I felt like I couldn't take anymore, the heat broke and Oregon's beauty gave me respite when I needed it most.
The other day while walking in my quiet Sellwood neighborhood in southeast Portland, I came across a small section of Chrystal Springs Creek.
A part of the Johnson Creek Watershed, a sign called it a salmon resting place. The creek was once channeled through a culvert under an apartment building. The water flowed too quickly for the young salmon who needed to use this waterway.
Restored in 2012 to its natural state, it is now a lovely piece of wilderness tucked in among houses and lawns. This bit of natural hope lifted my spirits on a particularly difficult day.
This made my think of my poet comrade Tania Pryputniewicz, also dealing with family issues. In her blog Feral Mom, Feral Writer, she sent me a poetry challenge while I was in Italy. Now we are trying to continue these challenges, hoping they will help us find our own resting place, to keep poetry flowing despite the day-to-day concerns that seem to bog down our lives.
So, Tania, here is your challenge: write a poem about a resting place. When you give me yours, I'll respond in turn.
A part of the Johnson Creek Watershed, a sign called it a salmon resting place. The creek was once channeled through a culvert under an apartment building. The water flowed too quickly for the young salmon who needed to use this waterway.
Restored in 2012 to its natural state, it is now a lovely piece of wilderness tucked in among houses and lawns. This bit of natural hope lifted my spirits on a particularly difficult day.
This made my think of my poet comrade Tania Pryputniewicz, also dealing with family issues. In her blog Feral Mom, Feral Writer, she sent me a poetry challenge while I was in Italy. Now we are trying to continue these challenges, hoping they will help us find our own resting place, to keep poetry flowing despite the day-to-day concerns that seem to bog down our lives.
So, Tania, here is your challenge: write a poem about a resting place. When you give me yours, I'll respond in turn.
Firenze Poem
/ At Feral Mom, Feral Writer, my friend, Tania Pryputniewicz just wrote about a wonderful morning we spent together in Calistoga, and has challenged me to write a Z poem. Here in Florence it seems a lovely thing to do. Thank you, Tania. 
For Tania From Italy
Here z's
are everywhere:
Firenze
scamorza
pizzeria
palazzo
zabaglione
Piazza della Stazione
Via Panzini
San Lorenzo
Uffizi
Rizzo
They fly from my mouth,
zip through the air
like chimney swifts
circling the great dome
outside my window.
Violin music swirls up
from the piazza below.
Delizioso.