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A hymn to Dante, art, landscape

A hymn to Dante, art, landscape

A really difficult enterprise this jumble of thoughts in abeyance between a lively imagination and the reality of the outside world  ensured in final irony.
The writer Giuliano Fornara Bertona has always considered “poetry” the classic model of harmonic rhymes and rhythms with due respect for Italian metrics.
The pretties spots in Northern Italy with special reference to Lake Maggiore sites – the home of the poet – are portrayed in the verses of “Magic Lake” in such felicity of expression: My lake appears to me today/like a boundless expanse: almost an azure sea./ Hare covers the banks over there/ while intense light/ reveals every nook and cranny/ around here/ and extends the horizon/ to infinity…
The protagonists of art and poetry and music are duly transfigured, such as “Paolo and Francesca” in honor of the divine poet Dante.
A pleasant memory of the famous Greek soprano Maria Callas – U.S.A nationality, naturalized in Italy makes up the longest ode in the collection. “A peerless prodigy! How can you forget her intense Butterfly, or Cherubini’s Medea or Verdi’s Violetta?”. Those were her triumphs.
The poem “We are neurotic robots” retraces the steps of a life.
Prose short stories give a good account of difficult school days during the student protest of 1968 and following years: an introspective analysis of a former teacher in a date against gratuitous charges.
Fornara Bertona also is a witness of his religious faith in God.
“I prefer St. Joseph” and the poem “Peace Sign” give proof of sincerity and submission. In the jacket-flay of the booklet the writer lists previous works his winning “The new Cornea” 1997 Molinello, Pompeii and Calabria prizes “Teacher, don’t break my balls!” 2008 Cities of Trieste and Empoli literary Awards; 2012 Santa Margherita Ligure (Genova) Honourable Mention for the present booklet.
The book is available from Editions Anpai-TIGULLIANA via Belvedere, 5 – 16038 Santa Margherita Ligure (GE) phone +39/0185/286 167 or www.tigulliana.org website.

16/01/2015