In memory of Stefano | Poetry as a work of mercy
On the occasion of World Poetry Day (March 21), we share the verses of Stefano Trane Protopapa
Stephen left this world in early March. An illness took him from us, at the age of 50.
We will talk about him in the near future, collecting the testimonies of those who had the gift of knowing and loving him. For today, we just want to remember him with one of his poems, certain that his life itself was one, however difficult in recent times.
He, a poet, really was. Not only because he could write, but most of all because he loved life and people, he listened, he looked at the world with wonder.
In his last weeks of earthly life, we did not imagine that his hospitalization would have this outcome, and neither did he. He endured the pains and hoped to get better; and, in the meantime, he was weaving relationships and conversations, and he was also working hard for spazio + spadoni.
I had personally involved him, and his response was immediately prompt and generous.
Initially, I proposed to him to edit a column on poetry and mercy (and it is not out of the question that the same would not be born in his memory), but there were days when his strength was lacking and he reluctantly had to say no. However, he did not spare himself and began to look for contacts among his friends, priests and others, who could write for spazio + spadoni. Some of our contributors are and will, in fact, be his work.
On World Poetry Day, however, it is his turn. This is one of his poems:
Imagine:
Wrapped in darkness
Buds of hope.
Silences of granite
among the dunes;
now in the sand
a flower.
Shards of mirror
Blow rays of light.
A breeze of life
Pours dust of reflections.
It illuminates
the transparency
Of a smile,
the soul screams,
appears, as a living force
erupts,
flies with joy over the abyss,
on the wings of a morning.
(Stefano Trane Protopapa)
Hello, Stefano. You are missed. Your words and your smile are your personal work of mercy for us who are left here….