Mar 11, 2013
What a Wonderful World (2)
Feb 12, 2013
I PAINTED PEACE (2)
Video created by Michele Cillo and Alessandro Balestra from class 1 E.
The poem "I Painted Peace" is declaimed by Michela Gallo, Sannak Zineb, Alessandro Balestra, Andrea Genovese, Giusy Girardi, Lucia Evangelista and Benedetta Romeo.
Aug 10, 2012
Straddling two worlds
The poem “A Page of Life”, originally written in Italian by my father, Dante Manganelli, deals with the painful experience of leaving one’s homeland and loved ones in a time when no form of technology existed to make separation less doleful.
The poem starts with a long description of the scene of a spring day, the symbol of the dawn of a new and fruitful experience: the opportunity for change and improvement.
After this lengthy description, the poem underscores the heartbreaking experience of lengthy family separation. Family cohesion is a value which Italian immigrants fostered in their “new homeland”.
Finally the last lines sum up two contrasting feelings: eagerness to start a new life and sorrow for what one leaves behind.
The last words of the poem are the most meaningful: the poet defines the USA his “second homeland”. These words express appreciation for two very different cultures and an open-minded attitude to reconcile the best aspects of two worlds and of past and future.
A Page of Life
Spring was in the air
And thousands of thoughts were swarming in my mind
For the sad day of my leaving
Was drawing near.
A restlessness
Drove me out of my house
To admire once again
The beauty of nature.
The March day was exhilarating:
The sun was shining,
Skylarks were flying in the bright sky,
While a few shallows were happily screeching,
perhaps because they had found their lost nests.
Fresh blades of fragrant grass,
and colorful tiny flowers emerged from the damp earth.
Bushes were becoming green
And some violets sprouted among the hawthorns.
Here and there spots of soft snow still covered the ground.
The light rustle of leaves,
The singing of young farmers,
The roaring of the stream,
The sparkling dewdrops,
The dazzling sun setting behind the hill
Altogether made that dying day lovely.
These moments of sublime joy
Were swiftly blurred
By the broken-hearted faces of my loved ones,
In whose eyes an awesome, endless sadness shone.
Eager to join the woman
whom I had bound my life to
and sorrowful for leaving home,
I departed for a very distant land
Which fatally became my second homeland.
Jul 30, 2012
Immigration Poetry
In the poem “Hopefully flying home”, originally written in Italian, my father focuses on the concepts of separation and loss perceived by an immigrant.
He expresses the feelings of an immigrant son returning to his dying father.
His “looking up” and “ looking down” on the plane journey symbolize death and life and the poet’s uncertainty of finding his father still alive.
The concept of death is dealt with serenity and strength.
Obviously the translation has no poetic value, but I’d like to share the English version of the poem with you so it can reach as many people as possible. I hold family bonds the most precious treasures to cherish.
It was suddenly dark and
the rain was pelting down.
Waiting for more than an hour,
sitting in a jet plane,
I saw only blinding lightning through the window.
When a sudden break in the clouds peeped out,
When a sudden break in the clouds peeped out,
the jet plane took off.
For eight long hours I remained
between heaven and earth
at boundless height,
and, when I was torn apart by doubt,
I wished the jet plane flew higher and higher
to reach up to my dear father's soul.
But an ineffable eagerness
drove me to hope
that at my arrival
his heart would still beat.
Looking up at the sky
I was blinded
by falling unlit stars.
Secular seemed to me that night
and as it ended
the stars vanished,
whilst the grey sky appeared
and the faraway dawn seemed so feeble.
The emerging sun
inspired me with strength and courage
and heralded the landing.
Looking down I saw my ancestral land.
In the same moment as I arrived home
my beloved father exhaled the last breath.
Cold tears poured down his unaffected face
and his lips still warm I kissed.
I was tempted to massage his chest
to stimulate his heart,
but I kept from doing it
for he had found serenity.
Dante Manganelli
Jul 3, 2012
People who make the difference
The end of the school year induces insight into educational excellence. Looking back over years of teaching I would like to pay tribute to two colleagues and two principals whom I have recently worked with.
Antonio Moccia - principal at “Leonardo da Vinci” Middle School in Avellino, Italy- He has worked hard to raise the attainment of my school this year. In everything he has done he has given off messages of high quality education and innovation.
Thank you for having appreciated my competences and having tried to retain me at your school.
Alfonsina Manganiello -principal at “Aurelio Covotta” Primary and Middle School in Ariano Irpino (AV), Italy- She first introduced me into planning, implementing, monitoing and evaluating school projects. I admire her firmness, problem posing and problem solving attitude and her approaching work with an entrepreneurial attitude.
Thank you for your guide.
Eliana De Negri- Colleague at “Dante Alighieri” Middle School in Avellino - She is a self-starter, involved in so many different educational initiatives and research work. She knows that innovation and facing challenges are paramount to quality teaching. What a pity there are so few people in the school system who breed self-starters and so many people who chop down initiatives!!!!!
Thank you for helping me understand how important it is to set high goals and strive to achieve them.
Carmela Di Gaeta -Colleague at “Salvatore Aurigemma” Primary and Middle School in Monteforte Irpino (AV), Italy. - Her unstinting effort in all kinds of school experiences has provided support for all her colleagues. She is a very responsible person with energy and follow through. She always makes the most of herself.
Thank you for having provided me with motivation and encouragement.
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