Meet Me at the Lighthouse - poem by Dana Gioia
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 28 ก.ย. 2024
- This is the title poem of my new book "Meet Me at the Lighthouse" available February 7th. The poem celebrates the old Hermosa beach jazz club The Lighthouse. You can pre-order the book now: www.amazon.com...
Twitter: @danagioiapoet
Website: danagioia.com
A new book of poems from Dana Gioia - so exciting! Loved both the poem and the video. I want to be sitting in that shabby nightclub on its foggy pier, drink in hand. 🥃
Thanks so much for this Dana! I spent many, many hours of my youth and young adulthood at The Lighthouse, and The Insomniac across the street.
That was both a beautiful poem, and a beautiful reading. Being one of the few of your readers who lived in the South Bay, and who infested both Hermosa Beach and the Lighthouse in the 70s, I remember them well.
But your poem far transcends that place and time, and those memories, to speak of an invocation of a grim Tartarus, and an evocation of the great ones of Jazz, who are now mere memories, remaining alive now only in their recordings.
As one who seems bound to enter soon myself into that grim Tartarus (or perhaps the beatific vision--I cannot be positive which), I wish it were possible to obtain either your mail or your email address, so that I might write you more fully before I go.
Your high school friend,
Bernard Brandt
New book?? Well it looks like it'll be off to the bookstore for me. :)
I enjoy your poetry, your lessons, and listening to your voice. I have learned so much from you. Thank you!
This reminds me how much I would love to hear a discussion between the Gioia brothers about how their lives and careers relate to each other.
We're the same age, Dana; I'm your senior by a year. Of course, all of us who lived in LA during the late 60s and early 70s remember The Lighthouse for jazz, as many of us remember Dante's in North Hollywood. Thanks for the memory. By the way, I ordered your collection "99 Poems," in hardcover, a fine used copy, flat signed by you. Not price-clipped or remaindered. I also ordered your book, "Pity the Beautiful," in paperback. I love the playfulness of that range brew of a poem. Books by Saltman are on their way to you. Nick Campbell
Dana Gioia at his best in this title poem from Meet Me at the Lighthouse: to make the connection--which I won't say, so as not to spoil the poem for later readers--between the the bar cum jazz house and . . . . That's why Gioia has the reputation he has.
Thanks. Both poetry and jazz appreciate you in the audience.
I began going to the Lighthouse while still in high school, 1956, and played there in 1975. Dana captures the club perfectly. The club had a section roped off on Sundays, where people under 18 could listen and not run afoul of the drinking laws. So many great musicians played there, back in the days when L.A. had a thriving Jazz club scene.
I have a book of poems by Dana. He’s a gifted poet. I like the footage accompanying the video.
Congratulations! I preordered your new book! Looking forward to reading it!