Poetry continues to be a Friend
This second publication of Tom Padula, “Poetry My Friend”,
volume two, is a successful continuation of the preceding book:
“Poetry My Friend”, volume one. After having told of the
principal itineraries of his existence with linear verses suitable
to the occasion, the poet now returns, takes us by the hand and
leads us into the orchard of his spiritual flowers. Here the more
delicate perfumes change into words and these into touching
lyrics signalled/punctuated by spiritual values not always
appreciated in these times dominated by consumerism and
materialism.
The poet, in general terms, is often happy, he dares to be
happy, he dares to be happy with poetry beginning with
certain classic reminiscences of Lorenzo De Medici* or with
truncated words and exclamations of Angelo Poliziano*.
Nothing is born out of nothing: we all need a base point in
order to begin, including poets!
Guided by his vocation, Tom Padula escapes from the
labyrinth of fragmentism and enters with confidence into
poetical liberalism. As a Cabalist he is capable of turning
things from the channels of his literary knowledge through a
popular vein full of naturalism. A joyous naturalism united with
a sensualism reality.
The poetry of Tom Padula can without a doubt be placed in
the annals of the pages of Italo-Australian poetry where the
most recurrent themes are emigration, the remembrances of the
left small towns left behind, nostalgia, the process of integration
into the country that hosts us.
In fact, our author is so well integrated into the tapestry of
Australian society, having learnt the English language perfectly,
therefore being able to use it even in his poetical compositions!
* Note: Lorenzo De Medici (1449 - 1492) and Angelo Poliziano
(1454-1494) were two famous Italians and also classical writers.
Almost in this same literary context one could well insert the
works of poets who have so far been published by INSEGNA
PUBLISHERS: Corrado Bianchi, Emilio Lo Iudice, Ignazio
Santagati, John Lando and the author of these notes.
The Italo-Australian poetry is alive, it continues to develop, to
be recognized and, even though it has a few negative critics,
one can no longer ignore it.
This second poetical work of Tom Padula is divided into three
sections: “Love and Happiness”, “Nature and the Seasons” and
“Sentiments and Life”.
What does Padula write for that concerns Love?
Following him is imperative: “Love is reality/for those who
have/a kind heart./You hug Love,/you hug it/very tightly;/you
caress it/you accept it as it is./Love wants company,/everyone
knows it if they have it”.
Naturally the theme has no end, it has no limits, we all know
it. And if poets don’t love, what type of poets are they? Love is
affectionate sentiment; inclination of the soul towards a person or
thing; deep affection that unites two people, etcetera, etcetera.
There is no happiness without love!
Even Spring is happiness, so sings Padula: “ A bud gives me
so much hope, because it is happiness. It’s born love, joy of
Spring. And you, my dear friend, you are a proud plant, mother
to a flower.”
The title of the second section is : “ Nature and the Seasons”.
All the seasons are interesting. If we know how to look at
them with the right vision we see that they they can give us
beauty and smells. An example of this is Padula’s poem “It’s
Spring”. “Here comes the damsel / singing near the
brook,/dressed festively/ adorned with violets and
primroses./Now she is like a gracious ballerina/who dances
lightly on the green meadows/of the earth./With her magic
touch/she invites everyone to her feast:/ white and yellow
daisies,/cherry trees tinted with pink petals,/ sparrows and
chaffinches,/coloured butterflies,/without counting all the
insects.“
The third section of this book “Sentiments and Life”, is rich
with meditations and reflections, rational sensuality, and truly
excellent poetical novelties, as in the composition “ Empathy”:
When there is empathy/you don’t go away!/You remain there
in place/truly self assured!/You feel good inside/even when
you are not well!/You acquire the incisive eye/of someone
who is really tough!/You speak and act as the owner/even if
you are a nobody!/What you say is well said/and what you
do is well done!/You don’t feel any rancour/‘cause nothing
bad can happen to you!/It’s not a mistake if you have/in your
company this wonderful empathy!”
Here the virtues and defects of human beings are placed
into evidence.
The whole is expressed in a very practical form without
looking for particular effects in order to favour the lyrical flux
already evidenced in its natural fluidity.
To conclude, we say that the poetry of Tom Padula is poetry
of content, of new visions/openings, with little allusions/ poco
allusiva, but close to storytelling, to the participation of the joy
and also of the suffering of modern men and women. Tom
Padula is a Poet of our times, an efficient lover of the
libertine/freedom-loving literature common at the end of the
20th Century.
Admirable is the message that the author offers us: a
message of optimism, of courage, of enthusiasm for life, for
nature, for hope. Tom Padula is his poetry as poetry is Tom
Padula. Transparent autobiography illuminated by the sun and
by love.
After these critical considerations, Happy Reading!
MARIANO CORENO
Melbourne, 15 August, 2008