Sarajevo 2003. International poetry meetings

We like to think of these "International Poetry Meetings" in Sarajevo as a party, the joyful place where poetry, which some would like to confine to tabernacles and niches enclosed in crypts accessible only to adepts, celebrates its own vitality, escapes classification, leaves the pages of books and becomes voice, song, ritual, music. A party in a beautiful city where the encounter between peoples and races has ancient roots and recent tragedies. Claudio Magris is right when he somehow contrasts literature and poetry with History, "poetry defends the individual, the particular, the things, the colours, the senses and the sensitive against the false universal which regiments and levels men. To History, which claims to embody and realize the universal, literature contrasts what has remained on the margins of historical becoming, giving voice and memory to what has been rejected, removed, destroyed and canceled by the race for progress." And it is probable that poetry arises from the awareness of speaking on behalf of a vast part of the world, material or immaterial, which otherwise would not have a word, that "silent world" as Francis Ponge calls it. “our only homeland.” And on behalf of this "silent world" we want to thank the poets gathered here from various countries for having chosen the fragile and light weapon of the word to counter the horrors, tragedies and injustices of the contemporary world. We thank them for wanting to give us the wonder of their verses, and for being here with us in Sarajevo, because, as our great friend Izet Sarajlić, to whom these meetings are dedicated, wrote, "Even verses are happy when people meet". * * * Dear friends, the Municipality of Sarajevo and its citizens will be happy to host the great poets who will participate in the next International Poetry Meetings. We all look forward to being in the company of those who, with a lot of patience, but also a lot of determination, show that the fight with words and writing, against evil and humiliation of any kind, is the only choice that man deserves. You are one of the crucial points of our morality, our dearest friends who we love to meet and always listen to with joy. We are particularly happy to organize the Poetry Meetings dedicated to Izet Kiko Sarajlić, as a sign of profound respect towards our Great Poet. Kiko put Sarajevo and Bosnia and Herzegovina on the world literary map. The numerous international awards bear witness to this; the honorary citizenship that is being obtained in many European cities; world-class literary magazines compare him to the greatest names in contemporary world literature and poetry. Kiko was a special man who loved people, open to future generations. We had the privilege, and many of you who knew him and were friends of him think so, that such a man lived in our city. Kiko's Italian friends, from the city of Salerno, will say that the bond that he as a poet and above all as a man had established with them, deserves to be maintained and cared for. For this reason they have placed a plaque in his name in the park and together with the European poets they will organize a tribute in honor of their Colleague, Poet and Friend. For all this Sarajevo thanks you cordially. Prof. Muhidin Hamamdžić Mayor * * * The Embassy of Italy in Bosnia and Herzegovina is pleased to promote, together with prestigious Bosnian and Italian partners, the Second Edition of the International Poetry Meetings dedicated to Izet Sarajlić. The first edition took place a few months after his sudden and painful death. On this occasion, the honorary citizenship of the City of Salerno was awarded to his daughter Tamara, intended for Izet when he was still alive, to reaffirm a relationship between two countries, between two cities, between two Poets, the Salerno native Alfonso Gatto and the Sarajevan Izet. During 2003, other moments saw this bond consolidate, including the visit to Salerno by an FTV television crew in order to produce a documentary on the Poet, which was then broadcast on the occasion of the first anniversary of his death. Most of these contacts were made possible by the passion of those responsible for the «House of Poetry» in Baronissi, whom I would like to thank here. We have thus arrived at this Second Edition with the awareness that a lot of common progress has been made and that the Meetings could perhaps become a fixed appointment in the cultural calendar of Sarajevo. This would make me particularly happy: I had the opportunity to meet Izet, a man who contributed to honoring the land of Bosnia, and to appreciate his exceptional poetic abilities. Poets and poetesses from many different nations will gather in his name in Sarajevo, clear proof of the network of affections that Izet managed to create and proof of the strength of a poetry rooted in the Bosnian capital and at the same time read and listened to internationally. It will be a beautiful edition full of emotions like last year: we owe it to Izet, as a sign of gratitude for what he wrote and said, we owe it to the city and the country that hosts us. In this way, Culture and Art also contribute to the reconstruction of a Bosnia and Herzegovina which will be able to return to being, in the not too distant future, I am sure, a serene land of peace and well-being. Saba D'Elia The Italian Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina * * * Izet Sarajlić, as Honorary President, was the patriarch of that great poetic family which is the structure of the House of Poetry, of which with his presence he favored the growth and affirmation at an international level. Today the House of Poetry with its projects, events, books, poets, musicians, workshops, websites, and with a circuit of enthusiasts who follow it, has become a consolidated reality on the international scene. After Izet's passing we immediately wanted, with a bit of guilt for not having done it sooner, to make a dream come true: to bring many of his poet friends to Sarajevo. Naturally the undertaking was complex and seemed beyond our strength. But our stubbornness and the generous help of many Italian and Bosnian institutions, together with those of many other countries, achieved a true small miracle last year. A miracle that is repeated this year and which we hope will become a stable event. These international poetry meetings testify to the consolidated bond between our countries and our cities. In Salerno on the tomb of his friend Alfonso Gatto, Eugenio Montale's epigraph reads: "for whom life and poetry were a single testimony of love" and it seemed to us that this also suited Sarajlić perfectly, almost as if to unite the two poets who were friends and now also "fellow citizens" again. We would like to especially thank the Mayor of Sarajevo, Prof. Muhidin Hamamdžić, H.E. the Italian Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina Saba D'Elia, and all the cultural and political institutions of Italy, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovenia, Holland, Portugal, Spain, France, Great Britain and Switzerland, who contributed to making a project that started from a dream a reality. The Sarajevo International Poetry Meetings, born in memory of Izet, are testimony to our commitment and gratitude for having had the fortune of sharing a part of our cultural and life journey with an extraordinary man and poet. Raffaella Marzano and Sergio Iagulli (House of poetry)

Program

17/18/19 October 2003 Pozorište Mladih (Youth Theatre) Ulica Kulovica, 8 Sarajevo PROGRAM: Friday 17 October 2003 6.30 pm Inauguration ceremony H. E. Saba D'Elia (Ambassador of Italy to Bosnia and Herzegovina), Dr. Muhidin Hamamdžić (Mayor of Sarajevo), Sergio Iagulli (Director of House of Poetry), Marko Vešović (poet and writer, Sarajevo). 7.30 pm “Poetry under siege” Meeting with Marko Vešović, Josip Osti, Ferida Duraković, Faruk Šehić. Coordination: Sinan Gudžević Screening of the video letter "Izet Sarajlić. Sarajevo March 1994" 9.00 pm Reading Roberto Carifi (Italy) Giancarlo Majorino (Italy) Juan Vicente Piqueras (Spain) Marko Vešović (Bosnia) Francisco José Viegas (Portugal) Ante Zemljar (Croatia) Ciril Zlobec (Slovenia) Saturday 18 October 2003 6.00 pm Presentation of the book Izet Sarajlić, Una calle para mi nombre 4 Estaciones, Cordoba, España 7.30 pm “The infinite streets of poetry” Meeting with Tony Harrison Coordinates: Raffaella Marzano and Mirjana Evtov Screening of the Tony Harrison video “V”. (in English) 9.00 pm Reading María Victoria Atencia (Spain) Maria van Daalen (Holland) Tony Harrison (England) Predrag Lucic (Croatia) Luciano Morandini (Italy) Faruk Šehić (Bosnia and Herzegovina) Carter Revard (United States) Sunday 19 October 2003 6.00 pm Film screening FTV (Radio and television of the Federation of Bosnia Herzegovina) "Ulicama moga grada. Izet Kiko Sarajlić. Tražim ulicu za svoje ime" (Through the streets of my city. Izet Kiko Sarajlić. I'm looking for a street for my name) 7.00 pm "From one side of the Adriatic to the other: intersections of two cultures" Meeting with Cedo Kisić, Silvio Ferrari. Coordination: Gianluca Paciucci Screening of the film “What are the clouds” by Pier Paolo Pasolini 9.00 pm Reading Judi Benson (United States / England) Jochen Kelter (Switzerland) Josip Osti (Bosnia/Slovenia) Janine Pommy Vega (United States) Ada Salas (Spain) Vojo Šindolić (Croatia) Giacomo Trinci (Italy) "I remember by Ken Smith" _______________ MUSICIANS: Luca Collazzoni (sax), Luca Colussi (drums and percussion), Riccardo Morpurgo (piano), Almir Nezić (bass).

Information

Grad Sarajevo - Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Italy - Embassy of Italy in Bosnia and Herzegovina - Friuli Venezia Giulia Region - Campania Region (Department of Culture) - Province of Salerno - Municipality of Pistoia - Municipality of Baronissi - Municipality of Tarcento - Salerno Energia S.p.A. - Provincial Tourism Board, Salerno - ARCI Nuova Associazione, Rome - STOCK of Trieste. Ministerio de Educacion, Cultura y Deporte, Dirección General del Libro, Archivos y Bibliotecas (Spain) - Ministério da Cultura e Istituto Português do Livro e das Bibliotecas (Portugal) - The British Council, Sarajevo - Foundation for the Production and Translation of Dutch Literature (Holland) - Slovenski Center P.E.N. (Slovenia) - 4 Stations, Cordoba (Spain) - Center “André Malraux”, Sarajevo - Spanish Embassy in Sarajevo - Pro Helvetia. Literatur und Geisteswissenschaften (Switzerland). Sarajevo Committee of the “Dante Alighieri Society” - FTV (Radio and television of the federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina) – P.E.N. Club Bosnia and Herzegovina - Asocijacija nezavisnih intelektualia, KRUG 99, Sarajevo - Association of citizens of Italian origin, Sarajevo. In collaboration with: The spirit of places (Baronissi) The path of comets (Pistoia) Sidaja (Trieste)