World Poetry Presents Italian Canadian Writers Special Event!

Behind Barb Wire

Featured writer

This Information is from our sister group, the Association of Italian Canadian Writers reguarding a special event today. To listen to one of the organizers and participants,Anna Foschi Ciampolini on the World Poetry Cafe Radio Show, CLICK HERE!

ASSOCIATION OF ITALIAN CANADIAN WRITERS (AICW)

In collaboration with BURNABY PUBLIC LIBRARY

Present:

LITERARY READING:

REMEMBERING THE INTERNMENT OF ITALIAN CANADIANS IN WW2

June 20, 2012 at 7:00pm
Burnaby Public Library/McGill Branch, 4565 Albert Street, Burnaby
Readings by: Lynne Bowen, Robert Pepper-Smith, Osvaldo Zappa and Anna Foschi Ciampolini
Free admission. AICW Books will be available at no charge.

 The internment of Italian Canadians in the 1940’s is a troubling chapter in Canadian history, and something of a paradox. Although those events are not widely known, they continue to elicit strong, polarized responses. What are the central issues surrounding the internment? What effects have they had on those interned and on subsequent generations of Canadians of Italian heritage? How should we try to move forward in response to these events?

The writings and essays in Beyond Barbed Wire and Behind Barbed Wire, the two books produced by AICW in partnership with Guernica Editions and Accenti Magazine, offer provocative points to stir debate; others provide thoughtful reflection and raise important questions about rights and responsibilities, power and privilege, political processes, ethnic identity, collective memory and other topics relevant to contemporary Canadian society(Adapted from: Beyond Barbed Wire)

camp petawawa moon

No one can sleep
Without wives
Without the touch
Of lovers.

The moon
An empty plate
Is claimed by every man
In this forgotten moment

Secrets of the heart whispered
to this lone luna.

Messages sent across kilometres
Across cities of war
Sealed in silent
Starlight kisses.

Domenico Capilongo (C)

(Behind Barbed Wire, 2012, Toronto, Guernica Editions, edited by Licia Canton, Domenic Cusmano, Michael Mirolla, Jim Zucchero

Domenico Capilongo lives in Toronto with his family. He teaches high school alternative education and practices karate. He has had work published in several national and international literary magazines. His first book of poetry, I thought elvis was Italian was published in 2008 and was short-listed for the 2010 F.G. Bressani Literary Prize. His new book of jazz-inspired poetry, hold the note, was publish in 2010 with Quattro Books.