In this edition we shall introduce you to an internationally-published gifted poet that crisscrossed different parts of Italy, studied different European languages, observed different cultures, imbibed different philosophies, appreciated modern and classic art like music and got her masterpieces translated in to various languages.
She goads readers to go for reading and writing poems, which she believes help appreciate diversity. I believe it is better to hear things from the horse’s mouth.
The Ethiopian Herald: Would you brief us about where you were born and bred? Also tell us about your educational backdrop?
Anna Ferriero: I am an Italian girl born and raised in different countries of Italy. I was born in the Campania region in Pollena Trocchia, a small town behind Mount Vesuvius. I lived there until the age of three. Afterwards, my family and I moved to Trecase, a small town famous for apricots, pine nuts and small red cherry tomatoes (piennolo).
At the age of eight, my family and I moved to Torre del Greco, a large city on the Tyrrhenian Sea. It is located between three important points: Vesuvius National Park, Vesuvius and the Gulf of Naples. It is the fourth largest municipality in the region in terms of population.It is the third most populous non-provincial municipality in Italy, after Giugliano in Campania (Naples) and Guidonia Montecelio (Rome).
Since my childhood I have always loved art. My mom loves Russian painting and culture, she studied French and traveled a lot. My dad is a very religious person and through him I learned to read the Christian Bible and to go to Mass. I studied classical, modern and contemporary dance, flute and piano. I studied in classical high school and have always been attracted to different languages and cultures. I was lucky, from an early age, to visit different places on earth. I have always been attracted to Eastern philosophy but especially to Buddhist philosophy. I am a Reiki Master, I study European Languages at the University and I attend the Oriental of Naples.
Herald: How and when was you attracted to poetry?
Anna Ferriero: I have always loved the poetic world but I thought I could never write poetry. One day, during the fourth year of high school, I wrote a few lines and the next day I added some more, and then some more until I collected them on a sheet. I have always loved nature, animals, meditation, travel, the scenes of the sky, seasons and sunsets.
The sunsets are my travel companions. They always inspire me, at all times, they form my soul, my heart and my breath. I believe that poetry is for me an innate quality. It created Anna Ferriero. Anna Ferriero is a product of poetry, because poetry is love and love is the main element not only of Anna but every living thing.
Herald: How many books of poetry did you get published so far? Could you tells us the themes of most of your poems?
Anna Ferriero:I have published: two poetic collections (Magic of Love – Punto, Oltre l’Orizzinte) and two stories (The Crypt of Desires – Shadows in the Mirror). The themes that recur in my poems are: Love, Peace, Forgiveness, Meditation, the beauty of life and the desire for change. But I must say that my current poetry is very much sought-after from the initial one (more concrete and less reflective).
Now it is more gentle, delicate and spiritual. Young people, misunderstood boys and my paternal grandparents are the main themes. My paternal grandparents whom I never met, are always with me and I know that they guide and protect me. Sometimes I dream of them and when this happens it means that their soul listens to me and says “you are making the right choice.”
Herald: What are the challenges and delights of authorship?
Anna Ferriero: When you have a book in your hands (a poetic collection, a novel, a story, a mystery), you see the finished product, however almost nobody knows the story behind that small piece of paper. Months of work, decisions, tears, misunderstandings, sleepless nights, thoughts, advice and listening. Working on a book is equivalent to when the mother carries her baby on her lap and can’t wait to see his face, the color of his eyes, the wave of his laughter, the scent of her soul.
So I think that the final product is a great gift from heaven, a gift destined for the whole world. When writing poems there is no competition and competition but the desire to discover yourself, discover the world and discover creation. Through this passage, the artist knows s/he transforms into a medium through which others can experience what I call ETERNAL SPRING. Because Spring represents the rebirth of the spirit in a broad sense. The rebirth of a new soul that can live, after death (allegory), a pure, fresh, fragrant, gentle, philosophical and uncontaminated dimension. The Communion between Spirit and Nature.
Herald: Are your works translated into different languages?
Anna Ferriero: Yes. My verses have been translated into: Croatian, Serbian, English, Bosnian, Chinese, Palestinian Arabic, Egyptian Arabic, Syrian Arabic, Hindi, Spanish, Albanian, Hungarian, Turkish, Swedish, Norwegian, Slovenian, Russian, Romanian, French, Bengali languages.
Herald: How were the feedback you got like?
Anna Ferriero: Mbizo Chrasha, an African poet, described Anna’s verses: ANNA FERRIERO is a brilliant poet of international fame. Her poetry is candlelight for the body of the audience. The lines have a sparkling rhythm like a musical ensemble of guitars, tamborines and drums. The sound of her verses are waves of a powerful sea and sometimes they become soft like the flowing tenors of a great river. Reason is abundant and verbal dexterity is conservative while maintaining its literary ability. Her poetry is written in so many languages. June 2019.
I have received CERTIFICATE OF APPROVAL, International Association of Izdikhan poets and writers (International Association of Izdikhan poets and writers Middle East) conferred by the Arab poet and writer Khalid Sheikh (خالد الشيخ): “With great love and appreciation, we extend our sincere thanks and gratitude for your blessed efforts in the service of the cultural movement.”
CRAIOVA – OCTOBER 25, 2019: I have received the certificate of achievement for the dedication to Culture and Humanity donated by the Palestinian writer Munir Mezyed: “We, the undersigned, proudly present this certificate of achievement to Anna Ferriero for her dedication to culture and humanity.”
Herald: What message do you convey to those who are a bit afraid to start reading and writing poetry?
Anna Ferriero: I think poetry is a powerful communication tool. It can unite different cultures. Fear is diversity but poetry breaks down the walls of diversity because via poetry diversity is similitude and cultural richness is up held.Also contamination of the soul is done away with.
Do you know that very young children are afraid to go to the beach?
What does mom say? “Close your eyes, close your nose and dive!”.
The underwater world is wonderful!
Herald: Do you have a rolemodel from classic or contemporary poets?
Anna Ferriero: In fact, I approached poetry by studying Charles Dickens. I have always been attracted to English culture. Ireland is my magical land! When I first read “The Christmas Carol” I was very enraptured by the freshness of the narrative dictation and the strength of the realistic representation despite the fantastic entonación.
Dickens’ spring pen was however favored in Victorian England, then the center of the world, by the mass circulation of periodical newspapers that had favored the success of previous novels – while this is his first work published directly in volume – but also by “mirroring” effect, also a phenomenon of mass well known to us (see reality shows), that is, to see on the page what was not difficult to see by turning the corner of the street. Dickens wrote all his work drawing on his present, without regressions into an easy past, drawing the fabula of his stories from the flow of hours of his time, which is often Hard times, as one of his famous books will say.
Currently, my reference models are: William Wordsworth (I read daffodils. They closely resemble the broom of Torre del Greco which inspired Giacomo Leopardi, the great Italian poet). I also love: Shakespeare, Virginia Woolf and James Joyce. I like to read reality through poetry in a true yet gentle way. Because you can read messages and teachings that remain for life and they make it clear to us men not to make past mistakes.
Herald: Does living in different countries helped you in your writing carrier?
Anna Ferriero: Yes! I think travel and poetry must travel in parallel. Travel is the concretization of poetry and poetry is the invisible soul of travel. Here the famous “Circle of Heraclitus” returns again with its theory: THE BECOMING OF THE OPPOSITES. Everything is the opposite of everything and everything exists because it is the result of the opposite.
Example: cold things heat up, hot things cool down, damp things dry out, the young man gets old, the old man dies, etc … The circle, therefore, represents the beginning and the end. In this principle, archè, God consists that the philosopher says: God is day and night, war and peace, winter and summer. He is quite the opposite of everything.
Herald: If you have a message to convey you are welcome?
Anna Ferriero: Yes thanks! I can? I would like to send this message especially to young people: dare, risk, experiment, try, live in love, peace and cultural contamination. We young people are the pillars of the future, we are the culture of the future. We young people, with our poetry, can guide future generations to create the people of Eden where all seasons are in harmony and in communion with men.
The Ethiopian Herald Sunday Edition 12 January 2020
BY ALEM HAILU
