Mist and mystical moments at Poetry on the Lake

View of the island, Isola San Giulio from Orta SG, Piedmont, Italy.

Posting late as I went down with flu after a trip to Italy. (The wages of sin or La Strega, a local aperitif which means 'witch'? 'Nuff said.)

Mist and sun, this time at the Poetry on the Lake Poetry Festival, at Orta San Guilio.(27th Sept-1st Oct)
It was lovely to be back, (my third visit), especially to see familiar faces and old friends for a few days of pasta, vino and poesie.  I was also delighted to be invited to have a 10 minute reading slot in the Pallazotto, the 17th c town-hall along with other poets.

Gillian Clarke, the judge of the competition, had awarded a Highly Commended to one of my poems. ('Stac an Armin'.) Gillian's was the first poetry workshop I ever attended back in the 80s in a shooting lodge overlooking Llyn Cregennen, and Cadair Idris  in Wales. (See my earlier post on Gillian Clarke)  So it was particularly special for me to meet Gillian again and reminisce.

Other headline poets were Carol Ann Duffy (who comes every year as she is the Patron of the Festival), Penelope Shuttle and Imtiaz Dharker.  Penny's poetry I have read and heard many times, and she is always wonderful.  Imtiaz was new to me - and delightfully surprising and funny.  A respectable-looking lady, she read shocking poems, with an unexpected use of racy language and a satirical  punch.

It was also great to hear Wayne Price,  the Silvern Wyvern  prize winner's poem about crows in a playground.  The competition theme was 'beastly' and most of us had chosen mythic or horrrific beasts, so Wayne's choice of subject and treatment was understated but the more frightening for that.

Two other poets who gave terrific readings were Katrina Naomi and Caroline Carver.  The poetry in Katrina's book 'The Girl with the Cactus Handshake' (Templar) certainly lived up to its title:  striking, prickly and noir with clear-cut imagery and language;  about her experiences growing up in Margate, and later in the East End- a particularly funny one about lying dead drunk on the floor of a pub in the Elephant and Castle with  'let's call him Andy'.  I complimented Katrina on her forties' outfits and the flower in her hair and learnt she is a fan of Lindy-Hop.

Caroline Carver's latest pamphlet 'Tikki-Tikki Man' (Ward Wood Publishing) is about child abuse and the dream-landscape she and the abused friend invented to cope with their father's 'friend'.  Horrific, nightmare stuff set in the Caribbean island she grew up in, evoking the real landscape, sights and sounds vividly.

There is also much more than poetry at the festival and each year I've been, Gabriel Griffin, the organizer, manages to treat us to new experiences.  This time it was a piano recital ranging from Mozart, Clara Schumann to Chopin held  in the Sala Tallone, part of a 17th c pallazza on the island.  Most surprising was to see that the pianist, Ilan Zajtmann,  was an 11 year old.  It made me think what it must have been like seeing the boy Mozart himself play.   I ended up in the overspill, the stone terrace outside but I think this was a bit of luck, as piano strains mixed with the sound of water lapping and bells floating across from around the lake.


The traditional poetical pilgimage round the Sacre Monte, where everyone is invited to read a poem outside chapels which wind round the mountain, with views of the lake below through shady pines and cypresses, was a charming experience - and a way of getting to know others at the festival.  

I managed to slip away  to walk the 'silent path' round the island by myself too where overhead signs invite reflection.

Another special  event was a celebration of the 14th c mystic,  Hildegard de Bingen, (whose canonization was announced last May - the Papacy takes its time) with a performance of her music, sung by Julia Berger accompanying herself on opaque white glass bowls.  Performed in the dark, lit only by candle-light, Julia, who has long blonde hair and wore floating robes, looked like a prophetess or priestess.  The music was trance-like and eerie, the singing bowls with a strange, haunting resonance, like a hum or gongs. The performance took place outside a herbal remedies shop, 'Thesaura Naturae', which uses Hildegard's recipes. (She has quite a New Age following.)  The music was followed by various poets, including me, reading poems inspired by Hildegard. The whole event was a magical, never to be forgotten experience.

But just in case you think the whole festival sounds far too serious, here are some photos of the more earthly delights:

The citizens of Orta San Giulio competing against their own Guinness Book of Record entry for the largest risotto ever made.

http://.juliaberger.it/

http://www.poetryonthelake.org/page13.php

Tikki-Tikki Man by Caroline Carver See http://www.wardwoodpublishing.co.uk/ai-ttm.pdf

Poetry on the Lake Festival, 2010

Photo near Omegna taken from the ferry on 'the Poetry Cruise', part of the Poetry on the Lake festival : poets reading poems in the anthology 'Reflections on Lake Orta' published to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the festival. A local singer and accordianist also regaled us on the journey.

A rather misty festival this year but all the more atmospheric for it. Main stars were Carol Ann Duffy and James Harpur.

I couldn't resist going as I had the chance to read my poem in the anthology and a commended one in the competition so got to read on the cruise and in the pallazo, Salle Tallone on the island - and then again on the Sunday on Sacro Monte two more poems. Phew.

James Harpur is an Irish poet, whom I had met before at Strokestown and it was a great pleasure to meet him again. He had had a 4-week writer's residency in Monaco and came over to Orta to give a talk, 'The Poetic Journey' which wore its erudition lightly and was illuminating and very engaging. He compared the via negativa and the via affirmata of the mystics with poets' journeys: in love with words (like Dylan Thomas) or spare and minimalist. Poets tend to fall into one or other category mainly. He did clarify ideas I have had in the back of my mind - mainly about what inspires poets - 'Identity' (your roots) and the 'Other' (what takes you beyond yourself). The latter became a buzzword over the weekend for all those who heard the talk - semi-humourously but of course, something we took seriously too.

Unfortunately James did not give a poetry reading, apart from his lovely 'Roscommon Rain' which he chose because it was raining on the last day when everybody gets a chance to read one poem in one of the chapels, part of the 20 chapels on Monte Sacro above Orta - another journey (the chapels were built as a way of prayer in honour of St Francis and became popular for pilgrims.)

On Saturday we ferried across the lake to the island of San Guilio to hear the winners and commended poets and for the prize-giving. This year, the first prize of the Silver Wyvern was given to Emma Harding, whose poem was about a slave who is thrown over a cliff for some minor transgression displeasing the Emperor Tiberius. The poem is the last thoughts of the slave as he 'reflects on inevitability' and finally 'the blue.' His watery death summed up in one word - masterly! (I'd say that was a wonderful example of the 'via negativa' .) You can read the full text of her poem, and that of the other winners in Orbis magazine, Summer 2010 edition (152)

Carol Ann Duffy also read four poems, followed by readings in Italian by her translators. One of the poems was 'Valentine' and she had brought along a real onion which she presented to Gabriel Griffin, the organizer of the festival, as a mock present to mark the 10th anniversary.

On the Sunday, (when James read his poem) we were in for a surprise as the owners of one of the apartments in the converted Conventino, next to the main church on Sacro Monte, invited us in to what had once been the monks' refectory. Now filled with ornate carpets, frescoes and Venetian pale blue and pink chandeliers, the only reminder of its holy past were scrolls on the wall saying 'Obediencia' and 'Silencio' , the benches round the walls and the wooden border where the monks' feet would have rested as they worked on their manuscripts. (Wood being warmer through their sandals than the tiles of the central area.) Several poets, including myself, gave readings here in these splendid surroundings before we set off for the chapel readings which, this year, were held in only one, due to the rain. It was so misty it was impossible to see the view of the lake and its jewel, the island but never mind...

I was fortunate that I had been before in 2008 when mist was followed by blue skies and shining red berries and ivy. This year the colours were muted, the ivy was still green, the frescoes in the village faded, the atmosphere melancholic but in some ways, it is good to see a place in all its moods and it was certainly almost more romantic.

It was great to meet and hear fine poets I met last time: Caroline Carver (who won the Silvern Wyvern in 2008, and incidentally has won the National Poetry Prize)and Elizabeth Rowe (whom I'm delighted has found a publisher for her new MS (her former publisher Peterloo having become defunct). She is now with Oversteps. Also to meet and hear new, to me, poets, especially the urbane and witty poetry and person of Christopher North (who runs the well-respected and delightful sounding Alamassera writing courses in Spain).

A special pleasure was discovering the poetry of Victoria Field, who with Penelope Shuttle and Caroline Carver (all three Falmouth-based) had toured N.Y. and Canada reading their poetry together and produced a pamphlet to celebrate the trip. Victoria's poetry is intelligent, and accomplished and I hope she'll soon have a new collection out. Her first one is sold out. You can hear her read (and/or read the text) in the link below .(Also Caroline Carver).

Pat Borthwick is a poet whose name keeps cropping up in all the prize winning lists of competitions, so it was good to meet and hear her at last. A new, for me, Italian poet of interest was Tiziano (I discovered the anglicized form of his name is Titian!)Fratus whose work is translated into English and who has toured the States. A trip to Britain is surely in order.

http://www.jamesharpur.com/

Victoria Field: http://poetryvlog.com/vfield.html

Caroline Carver: http://www.poetryvlog.com/ccarver.html

http://www.poetryonthelake.org/

Alamassera writing courses http://www.oldolivepress.com/

You can see more photos of Orta SG following the Photos link on my Home page, http://sites.google.com/site/stephgreen1/
and read about the 2008 festival on my blog for 21st Oct, 2008. Stephanie Green's Blog/Journal: Poetry on the Lake Festival, 2008

Poetry on the Lake Festival, 2010

Off to Italy for the Poetry on the Lake Festival, Oct 1st-3rd, 2010

Isola San Giulio, on Lake Orta.

It must be something to do with the autumn chill waiting for a bus on the corner of my road, but one last jaunt before I hibernate for winter has become hugely enticing. Especially to Orta San Gulio and its enchanting small poetry festival of three days held in various venues in OSG and on the island, Isola San Guilio. Think terracotta, yellow and rose coloured stucco walls, the arcaded piazza with one side open to the lake framed by forested mountains and a glimpse of snow-capped Alps peering over.

It may not be warm. Last time I went (2008) mist swirled down from the mountains over the lake for several days. In the market braziers roasting chestnuts did a good trade. Then the sun came out and we had blue skies and vibrant colours, bright red berries and ivy and the poetry, of course.

This year, along with the winners of the competition, the fine Irish poet, James Harpur and the splendid Carol Ann Duffy will give the last night reading in a 17th pallazzo on the island.


I'm thrilled that I will also be getting a chance to read - a poem selected for the 10th Anniversary of the festival's anthology 'Reflections on Lake Orta' and the poems will be read whilst sailing round the lake! I also had a poem commended in the competition and will be reading that at some point during the festival, possibly when everyone climbs the nearby mountain, Sacro Monte and readings are held at various chapels on the way up.

Festival website: http://www.poetryonthelake.org/
For more photos, see:
http://sites.google.com/site/stephgreen1/biography%C2%A0
and for an account of the 2008 festival see:
Stephanie Green's Blog/Journal: Poetry on the Lake Festival, 2008

Poetry on the Lake, 2010

My poem 'Imago Mundi' has been commended in the Poetry on the Lake competition, part of
a festival on and around the Italian Lake Orta and the atmospheric and romantic Isola Guilio San Orta 1st-3rd October.
See my blog on the 2008 festival.

Poetry on the Lake Festival, 2008

http://www.poetryonthelake.org/_mgxroot/page_10727.html
This may be my favourite poetry festival so far... (tho I think this about every one I go to).
Orta San Giulio, on the least well-known of the Italian lakes, lake Orta. You could not have a more romantic setting or time of year for a poetry festival: changes of light on the lake and stone walls, water lapping or sloshing on the quayside as the small ferry boats go by. There were several readings over the 3 days (Fri eve to Sun morn) and all participants who wanted to were invited to read which was an unexpected bonus. Nice to hear not only the invited guests but poems by fellow audience members who we'd got to know chatting at the dinners. So I also was prevailed on to read - not that it took much persuasion.

And the final evening travelling over the lake by ferry to Isola San Giulio for the performance in the Salla Tallone, part of a 17th century pallazzo. Sheer magic. An idyllic line up too: Jo Shapcot and Carol Ann Duffy along with Caroline Carver, Vivienne Tregenza, E.C. O'Leary the winners of the poetry competition and many of the other poets recommended in the competition, many of the poems followed by an Italian translation read by the Italian poet, Alessio Zanelli (whose own fine nature poetry we had heard earlier). And what with long interminable (in the nicest possible way) dinners of 6-7 courses, sat at long tables with all the participants, poetry, wine, pasta...this is certainly a festival to recommend.

Caroline Carver's poem was packed with historical detail which gave her poem about a slave-trader a serious weight and then closed with a visceral punch. Vivienne Tregenza's was a moving evocation of a Cornish christingle. It will be good to purchase a copy of the festival anthology to read them again.

Jo Shapcot read a selection of Rose Poems which are responses to Rilke (to be found in her collection 'Tender Taxes'), one of my most favourite poetry books. A wonderful setting, in a slightly decaying Italian pallazza, for poems which evoke beauty, love, decay. Here is one:

Rosa foetida

I'm an imperfect thing:
neat, layered
but spilling petals and pollen,
dropping bruised scent

onto the ground.
Essence of roses is not sweet,
but brown at the edges
like the air you breathe.

Carol Ann Duffy read poems with water associations (at the organizer, Gabriel's suggestion), in particular two poems both entitled 'River' and probably one of her most famous poems, 'Prayer'
which I copied out laboriously into a notebook of 'Favourite Poems' in my 20's when I first came across it and recently re-read it with my son who was studying it for his Advanced Highers (the Scottish equivalent of A level) and still think is a wonderfully evocative poem...it also resonated with the Italian surroundings, especially sounds travelling, as church bells continually float across the lake and throughout the mountains from surrounding villages throughout the day and evening. Their readings were accompanied softly on acoustic guitar by Dario Fornara. Not something that is commonly done in UK - except late night Radio 4. It doesn't suit all poems, of course but was perfect here, all adding to the atmosphere.

Penelope Shuttle was also one of the judges but did not attend. A shame. With JS, CAD and PS, that would have been a triumvirate or should I say trimaterite of distinction!

New (to me) poets I particularly liked were Elisabeth Rowe - wry, witty poems published by Peterloo which, sadly I hear, is winding up and Cornelia Hoogland - from London, Canada -in particular the reading she gave from a long MS, 'Little Red Meets the Wolf in the Wood' and (which I read later) her vivid prose-poem 'Cuba Journal.' http://www.poetrylondon.ca/who_we_are.html