Are Poems Like Prayers
Poetry comes from the heart and soul
Editor’s Note:
August is peeling away day after day and poetry bursts from hearts and souls around the world, and much to the surprise of many, blossoming in Florida and our lovely Gulf Coast.
I read this recently by Simone Weil, a French philosopher:
“Attention, taken to its highest degree, is the same thing as prayer. Because poetry is the art of attention, anchored in a total receptivity that judges nothing and rejects nothing, every poem is a kind of prayer, kneeling before the wild wonder of the world with faith and love.”
I really like this description of poetry and wanted to share it with you this week.
Much Love,
Larry
Gianna’s Coming to Town!
That’s right, the inimitable Gianna Russo is coming to the house that Jack built for Coffee and Poetry at Jack’s House this Sunday, August 25th. The reading goes from 3 to 6pm, with a superb range of open mic poets to complement our terrific feature. Chef Shelley is busy in her kitchen dreaming up a special pastry in honor of Gianna. There will be a $10 cover charge, covering your coffee and pastry. Get your tickets here!
GIANNA'S BIO:
Gianna Russo is the inaugural Wordsmith of The City of Tampa. She is the author of the poetry collections, All I See is Your Glinting: 90 Days in the Pandemic, with photographer Jenny Carey (Madville Publishing, 2022); One House Down (Madville Publishing, 2019) and Moonflower, winner of a Florida Book Award. She has published poems in Green Mountains Review, Gulf Stream, The Sun, Poet Lore, Florida Review, Karamu, and Calyx, among others. She is Associate Professor of English and Creative Writing at Saint Leo University. A third-generation Tampa native, a mother and grandmother, Gianna lives in an almost 100-year-old bungalow with her husband Jeff Karon and their cat Gingko.
Get your tickets here!
Tampa Bay Poetry Alliance Meeting
The next Poetry Alliance meeting is August 25th and will be held at the 88.5 WMNF Radio Station (Conference Room) located at 1210 E MLK Blvd. It will also be available online via Zoom.
The purpose of the Alliance Meeting is to share information twice a year, about our shows and events in Tampa Bay and surrounding areas, and to support Artists in their endeavors. We also look to help people to be able to network with others in the community.
Although facilitated, the meeting is an open roundtable discussion. Everyone has the equal right and opportunity to address the room on any topic pertaining to Spoken Word that you wish to share with the Community. You are only asked to be respectful when speaking and respectful to those who are speaking.
For more information, email!
Poetry Slam! Saturday, August 24
For more info!
Our surprise video
This week, the wondrous Patti Smith speaks about poetry and Peter Pan.
Not all poetry is like prayer, but some can be. There are poems about sex, crime, abuse... Or negative poetry whatever the subject may be. Thus in those cases it is not like prayer or could be taken to be. But a great amount of poetry is like prayer or can be taken yo be.
Thanks so much, Larry, for sharing the quote from Simone Weil. I really like it too. 😃