Venezia71, "Like the trees of Arda"

Lido di Venezia, the "hole" - photo shot on September 4, 2013
from the 3rd floor of Casino Palace

#Venezia71 #Lido #hole #trees #Arda

On the opening day of the 71st Venice International Film Festival, I post "Like the trees of Arda", a poem I wrote two years ago for flashmob and poetry reading "Arms up to the sky" which was organized by poet Antonella Barina at Lido di Venezia on August 5, 2012: on the wide terrace between the Casinò Palace and the golden beach, just in front of the sea, 130 people staged a protest against the cutting down of 130 gigantic cluster-trees in order to build a New Cinema Palace. After the trees were cut down in February 2009, and a huge amount of public money was spent, the plan was dropped: in the place of the cluster-trees there still is a huge "hole".

On August 5, 2012 the chorus verses were recited by dozens of people taking part in the flashmob, I recited the verses of the poem: just like in an ancient Greek tragedy.

Like the trees of Arda

by Maristella Tagliaferro

Gigantic and strong,

like the trees of Arda (chorus).

It’s under your branches

that we did run

looking for coolness,

breathing

the sea breeze

mixed with the deep

smell of the resin

stuck to our fingers.

Gigantic and strong,

like the trees of Arda (chorus).

In your shadow

the most intensive dreams

opened up,

set to music in the Anuir’s singing,

in the rustling of your branches,

in the twittering of birds,

in our laughter,

of women and mothers.

Gigantic and strong,

like the trees of Arda (chorus).

Splendid visions

of encounters

that might be new,

or centuries old,

a gift that you,

gigantic and strong,

gave to our

brave hearts.

Gigantic and strong,

like the trees of Arda (chorus).

We cried,

instead of chanting,

we asked,

instead of extolling you,

gigantic and strong,

as Taillefer,

hero and juggler

would do.

Gigantic and strong,
like the trees of Arda (chorus).

But he always comes back,
the noble knight,
descendant of Charlemagne,
singer of noble exploits,
who juggles
with his sword
while charging the enemy lines.
And there will be more

Gigantic and strong,
like the trees of Arda (chorus).

No more steel,
but word,
no more cries
but singing,
no more deeds
but noble exploits,
music,
and fertile silence.

Gigantic and strong,
like the trees of Arda (chorus).

"Like the trees of Arda" - original title "Come gli alberi di Arda" - copyright Maristella Tagliaferro

Translation from Italian by Maristella Tagliaferro with the supervision of Jackie Porter Antweiler

VIDEO by Paolo Fumagalli
 130 persone per 130 alberi
reading of "Come gli alberi di Arda"
minutes 8.20 - 11.00

IMAGES by Antonella Barina from
 Braccia al cielo - flashmob

Maristella Tagliaferro reads "Like the trees of Arda"

130 people

Arms up to the sky

Alice Di Lauro,  " In difficile equilibrio"

Recovering a white painted tree from the rubbish

Related post: 
Venezia71, "Come gli alberi di Arda"

THE CUTTING DOWN OF THE CLUSTER-PINES 

 Lido di Venezia, feb. 2009

Photos from
IL NUOVO PALAZZO DEL CINEMA la vera storia di cialtronerie, appalti, fallimenti ed escort raccontata attraverso le notizie estrapolate dai media

Photos by Lucio Angelini in
Best of cazzeggi letterari