Poetry Workshop welcomes American writer

Poet Victor Infante of Worcester, Massachusetts willl be the guest reader at the Cobourg Poetry Workshop's 3rd Thursday Readings on Sept. 16.

A writer, journalist and editor covering such diverse subjects as politics, business and pop culture, Infante has read his work across the United States and the United Kingdom. Cobourg will be his first reading in Canada.


"I always wanted to be a writer, always delighted in language and stories, and then I won a poetry competition in second grade. Well, it was half-plagiarized from The Star Wars Christmas Album, but there you are," he says. "Later, as a teenager, I began reading a hodgepodge of poets, from Shelly to Eliot -- whatever looked interesting on the bookstore shelf -- and I found myself infatuated."

How would he describe his work?

"I'm very much an image-driven writer," he says. "I'm looking to capture the essence of an emotional reaction; I want the reader or listener to feel something, and I keep looking for new ways to do that."

One aspect of poetry that hasn't reached Cobourg yet is Slam Poetry -- a reading where poets perform their work in front of an audience and judges score them from zero to 10, Olympic style.

"It's a great deal of fun," Infante says, "but it's not novel anymore. But at the core of all this silliness is a steadfast belief that poetry can be read aloud or performed in a way that is engaging and interesting for an audience."

So what is "poetry" in 2010? "I'd hesitate to say it's any one

thing," Infante says. "We live in an age of fusion. English is an adaptive language. It learns from other languages or cultures it encounters, and changes to fit its needs. English-language poetry never stays stagnant as an art form for terribly long."

Infante will be reading from his latest book, City of Insomnia.

"Will I be reading any new work? When you're reading in new place, the poems are new everyone anyway," he says. "I'll have some written since City was published, including one paying homage to Tom Stoppard. It'll be a mixed bag."

On Me, You Can Always Depend

I've been on such a long journey
as I write these words today
most have not come nor followed
at least not right away.

If you have ever liked or loved me
I want to tell you much more
some believe I keep hidden secrets
behind a locked tight door.

If you would ask this door I'll open
and show you what lies therein
the end of time is nearing
and you can't go back again.

I have put on many faces
but one was truly mine
and now that I have told you
my real face is truly divine.

The universe is hurting and crying
and I have some things to do
mankind is evil and so destructive.
and this just makes me feel blue.

My words have all been written
while most have just ignored
I have sent my son named Jesus
have you guessed this is the Lord.

So few really understood him
or really ever took the time
to know my son through all the myths
his reason nor his rhyme.

What would you see within me
through my eyes if you had gazed
maybe the garden of Eden
or how Jericho was raised.

But some never come to love me
in spite of everything
would you come and take my hand
to feel the joy it brings.

It matters not all nations
or the planets far apart
what can really make a difference
is whats inside your heart.

The wonders seen within me
nothing is created to compare
the compassion I have given you
shows that for you I really care.

My heaven is a beautiful place
you will never feel you're lonely
so many people forsake my giving love
as they worship after mans money.

If they would read how things began
they could all become so humble
but they build a brand new Babel
all hoping it will not crumble.

I sent my son in mortal flesh
to shed all his mortal tears
wanting mankind to come and repent
and end the suffering through years.

There is no road so long when shared
that has no purpose taken in vain
come share with me your beating heart
as together we'll bear all this pain.

I want to give you all of me
as you open the once closed gate
step inside and feel my love
before the second coming and its too late.

You need to seek what lies within
and your soul I will come and grasp
you only have to reach out for me
and your hand I will gently clasp.

For you, I promise all of my comfort
On Me, You Can Always Depend
I am the creator of everything
your God, your savior and your friend...

Life

Life
--- By Allan Houston
Life can be good,
Life can be bad,
Life is mostly cheerful,
But sometimes sad.
Life can be dreams,
Life can be great thoughts;
Life can mean a person,
Sitting in court.
Life can be dirty,
Life can even be painful;
But life is what you make it,
So try to make it beautiful.