BROOKLYN BIRTH

I tapped my fingers rhythmically as I waited my turn to speak at Dr. Ray Heitzman''s annual writers' conference at Villanova University. The speaker behind the podium captivated me when talking about the legacy of his writing. To paraphrase him, he noted that when he was gone, he did not want children, grandchildren, loved ones, friends and others interested in him or his body of work, to waste time and energy trying to find him in a stone-filled memorial park. If they wanted to find him, he suggested that they rummage his writings, both published and unpublished. Those words provoked me to write this book filled with my poetry. So many of my ideas had been securely folded up and stored away in the caverns of my mind or in dust-filled garages, trapped in sealed and taped boxes. The time had come to unwrap this patch quilt of rich and warm experiences, and deliver them to sunlight to be shared with others. They are now nestled within the bindings of this book. Anytime any of my loved ones wants to find me, whether I'm around here or elsewhere, all they need do is to arrange a rendezvous with my writings. I am grateful to that Villanova speaker for inadvertently influencing me to complete this heartfelt project. All writers live eternally in their words, whether or not they are published. The poetry in this book presents a verbal canvas of my days, from my preteen days spent on commercial fishing boats with earthy Sicilian fishermen, to late night summer stickball games on steamy Brooklyn streets, to waffle Wednesday dining with elementary school friends, and to savory spaghetti Sundays surrounded by tasty food and a most wonderful, caring, and generous family. This verbal travelogue captures the discovery of my one and only romantic dream love, the breathtaking and exciting births of each and every one of my children and grandchildren, and it chronicles the joy and lessons that I've learned from thousands of students and teachers that I was blessed to have taught and trained. Brooklyn Birth: Sicilian Soul captures the winding and wondrous journey and essence of this humble writer.