Sunday, October 4, 2015

A Roman Style Bacchanalia ...

In Roman times, Bacchus, the god of wine and revelry was celebrated at events called Bacchanalias. Some historians think it originated in the south of Italy (southerners know how to par-tay). At this Bacchanalia, eleven writers and poets and one singer were invited to read, recite and sing ... to celebrate ecstasy, revelry and intoxication. Here''s how they did it ...

Dom Capilongo, poet & co-emcee
We start with a bang ... with slam poet Trevor Abes
Trevor
The writer Arif Anwar, travelling
from the wilds of Mississauga
The ever expressive poet Valentino Assenza
Val
John Calabro, author of
An Imperfect Man
John
Dom Capilongo leads the second set 
Dom
The poet Rocco De Giacomo
The inestimable Paul Fowler
reading his short story
Paul
Poet, publisher, force majeure ...
Luciano Iacobelli
Luc
Paul Salvatori, reggae singer
Paul
Poet & Lexical.ca founder Justin Lauzon 
Justin
La Poetessa (and pinch hitter) Cathy Petch 
Cathy
There is a Sicilian expression you use when someone special
comes into the room: "Ca sono i sordi (Here comes the money)..."
That's Toronto poet laureate George Elliott Clarke
GEC



An appreciative crowd ...
Emcee and organizer Michelle Alfano


I hear not the volumes of sound merely, I am moved by the exquisite meanings,
I listen to the different voices winding in and out, striving, contending with fiery vehemence to excel each other in emotion;
I do not think the performers know themselves—but now I think I begin to know them.
That Music Always Round Me ~ Walt Whitman.