Category: Poetry

April 9 . Issue #85

Post author By Paul Yanuziello
Post date April 9, 2021

Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery
None but ourselves can free our minds
Have no fear for atomic energy
‘Cause none of them can stop the time

How long shall they kill our prophets
While we stand aside and look? Ooh
Some say it’s just a part of it
We’ve got to fulfil the book

Won’t you help to sing
These songs of freedom?
Won’t you help to sing?
Redemption songs
Redemption songs
Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery

Bob Marley – Redemption Song

April is national poetry month and this week I am looking at all things as a poet.

1. The featured photo is of a mural that I discovered on a recent walk in midtown Toronto. My new home is close to little Jamaica, the Eglinton & Oakwood area of TO, the home of roots-reggae.

That was recognized in 2015 with the opening of Reggae Lane and unveiling of this mural by Adrian Hayles featuring some of the legendary musicians who called the neighbourhood home – Leroy Sibbles of the Heptones, Jackie Mittoo (aka Donat Roy Mittoo of the Skatalites), the Cougars, Johnny Osbourne, Ernie Smith, Stranger Cole and others.

2. Alexander McCaul Smith may not be a poet laureate but he surely can put together some joyous prose. I receive his monthly newsletter and this month he shares a poem; “Spring Comes, Even This Year“.

3. I really got into the reggae, ska and rocksteady music this week and it brought me right straight around to funk. Checking out the powerful vocalizing of Michael Dunston featured here on the Rhythm Express recording of “The Ghetto”.

Michael Dunston is also the featured vocalist for the group Soul Stew. My friends at JPEC captured a great performance of the band and Michael seen here singing on “What’s Happening” and “What’s Going On” bringing back that incredible Marvin Gaye vibe.

4. National Poetry Month happens every April and this year’s focus is ‘Resilience’ and it is certainly a fitting theme. What does that mean for you? Is there a poem wanting to be released in your soul?

Poetry Foundation puts out a poem for the day, I like this days poem and will share it with you all. The poem is by Robert Hershon, entitled Superbly Situated.

I have felt the passion to put my hand to a bit of prose in gratitude for the good things that I am blessed with. What better title than ‘Gratitude‘.

5. I have started reading a book of poems by Rupi Kaur; The Sun and Her Flowers it is a deep, different, humourous and wildly popular book.

My book Samba in Brazil is still available for a limited time as part of the Illustrated Children’s Book Spring Fling promotion.

If you’re in the hunt for some fun April reading, look no further! I have joined a group of bestselling authors who have teamed up to offer a delightful selection of new books.

Thank you for sharing my week. If you are looking for a fun children’s book check out one of my books. Samba on a Snowy Day, Samba em um Dia de Neve or my new book, Samba in Brazil – Free e-book for a limited time starting April 2nd, Illustrated Children’s Book Spring Fling!

Stay safe, stay well, stay strong and keep going.

Tags Alexander McCaul Smith, Bob Marley, Ernie Smith, Leroy Sibbles, Michael Dunston, Rupi Kaur

Children's Activities Poetry Reading

November 13 . Issue #64

Post author By Paul Yanuziello
Post date November 13, 2020

In Flanders Fields

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

John McCrae (1872-1918)

Welcome to my weekly journal where I share with you 5 points of interest. Things that got my attention this week and I hope will be of some interest to you.

This week Remembrance Day, our Holiday Book Sale, Kensington Jazz Festival and more…

1. Remembrance Day, on November 11, at 11:00 AM, we remember and we pause, take a moment and give thanks.

Winnie the Pooh is back in Toronto at the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) – Author A.A Milnes’ classic story of the lovable bear, with Illustrations by E.H. Sheppard.

2. A Weekend in Toronto, a getaway to relax and unwind. While in Toronto what better, than to visit Kensington Market.

Taking in the Kensington Market Jazz Festival, alas virtually this year. Great music, featuring award-winning musicians; Dave Young, Jackie Richardson, Joe Sealy, Larnell Lewis, Robi Botos, Brandi Disterheft, and so many others.

3. Thank you to the wonderful people of PA – the deciding factor in the nail-biting USA election; the world seems to have taken a collective breath.

It is so refreshing to have a President quote Irish poet, Seamus Heaney, a Noble prize-winner.

4. A friend recommended a site for children, Teach The Children Well. I think it is a fantastic site loaded with tons of information. This could be your child’s safe home page.

Also for the children in all of us; Children’s Books Holiday Sales, a great promotion that I am happy to be involved with. A group of award-winning authors have teamed up to offer a delightful selection of children’s books for your enjoyment. Including my book, Samba on a Snowy Day, available at a great price.

5. My Kindle Creative Workshop session no. 4 of 6, and we’re getting down to the Dialogue of the story.

Practice makes perfect when it comes to storytelling.

Listening to my favourite storytellers, feeling inspired. Including this wonderful story, by the awesome storyteller, Claire Murphy.

Thanks for reading, if you think someone you know would like my newsletter please share it with them. If you’re looking for a great children’s book, check out my book, Samba on a Snowy Day. Available at Chapters – Indigo stores in Markham, Richmond Hill and Newmarket.

Please consider a contribution to our next book project; scheduled for February of 2021. You can contribute by buying me a coffee, just swing by Ko-fi.com. You know I appreciate my coffee and in these crazy times every coffee really helps out.

Check out my weekly journal, follow the link to subscribe. Get the weekly happenings in your inbox, no spam I promise.

Tags Claire Murphy, Kindle Creative Workshop, Remembrance Day, Seamus Heaney, Strathspey Stories, Teach The Children Well

Meditation Poetry Reading

Newsletter 46

Post author By Paul Yanuziello
Post date July 10, 2020

Newsletter 46

Hello all. Welcome to a new week. I hope you are staying safe; staying strong, and staying well. This week my 5 interests included coping mechanisms for a stressful time, the best bass players in the universe, and more. Hope you find something of interest. Have a great weekend!

1. St. Francis and the Sow by Galway Kinnell, a poem that speaks of self-blessing. We all need to remember our essential nature and focus on self-compassion during these trying times.

A classmate of Galway Kinnell, also a poet; is the poet laureate, W.S. Merwin. He is quoted here, “The world is still here, and there are aspects of human life that are not purely destructive, and there is a need to pay attention to the things around us while they are still around us. And you know, in a way, if you don’t pay that attention, the anger is just bitterness.” W.S. Merwin

I like to write prose and poetry; a sample, my poem: Gratitude.

“To S.T.O.P and pay attention to what is happening in the moment is one way of snapping out of … fixations. It is also a reasonable definition of meditation.” Stephen Batchelor

2. Some of the bass players who have blown my mind with their phenomenal chops. Renaud Garcia Fons, Dave Holland, Stanley Clarke, Dave Young, Michael Moore, and Buster Williams. I mention these bassists as I have seen them all performing in concert and each one has moved me with their stirring performances. I spent the week enjoying and reminiscing on the where and the when, of these amazing performances.

3.) RIP Ennio Morricone; I loved his music, it made some of the movies of my youth so much better. Rest in Power Joe Porcaro, fantastic jazz drummer and patriarch to the Porcaro musical family. The family, that mostly comprised the pop band, TOTO. Rest in Peace Nick Cordero; Hamilton, Ontario born; Broadway star. Tony-nominated star of “Bullets Over Broadway” succumbed to Covid-19, my deepest condolences to his family.

4. For the kids in all of us, I spent time learning how birds; especially weaver birds, weave their nests. The kids should see this, and I learned something too.

On the subject of kids, and meditation; it’s all about practice. Just show up. A wonderful site with plenty of bite-size pieces; things to do and things to see, for all the curious minds out there.

5. Speaking of meditation; I use the word meditation to imply the activities to unify one’s life and the whole world. Can you find a better time to be a practitioner of some form of mindfulness? I practice Tohei style Ki Development; as mentioned in my previous newsletter, and one of the basic principles is to relax completely. Relaxation, deep breathing, and cold showers — all while maintaining the one point in the abdomen.

Thanks for reading, if you think someone you know would like my newsletter please share it with them. If you’re looking for a great children’s book, check out my book, Samba on a Snowy Day.

Please consider a contribution to our next book project by buying me a coffee (in a ceramic mug), swing by Ko-fi.com. Every coffee helps out during these challenging times.

Check out my blog, follow the link, sign in. Get the weekly newsletter in your inbox, no spam I promise.

Tags Bassists', Meditation, Poetry