Thinking of the Little Italy Festival

 

Thinking of Indiana on Labor Day Weekend

 

One of the times when I do become somewhat homesick for my Hoosier homeland is Memorial Day weekend as I await to shed a few tears during the singing of “Back Home Again in Indiana” at the opening ceremonies of the Indianapolis 500.  Another one of those times when I long to be in Indiana is Labor Day weekend for Clinton’s Little Italy Festival.  Unfortunately, I will be unable to be at the festival this year.  Much to my amazement, this year’s festival coincides with the marking of the onset of my senior year at Clinton High School–fifty years ago!  Thus, thinking of the festival places, events, and food which I have so enjoyed in previous years, as well as the fifty years since the CHS Class of ’68 began its senior year, I was inspired to write the following prose poem which is creative nonfiction.  The “creative nonfiction” comes into play in just a couple of spots in the poem.  For example, although the authentic gondola is still a part of the Little Italy Festival parade, one can no longer take a ride in the festival’s gondola on the Wabash River.

 

After the poem, you will find a brief announcement which I posted last week on my author’s web page:

http://www.dldbooks.com/alicemassa/

I hope you like this poem as much as my critique group did.

 

 

Fifty Years later, Meet Me

 

by Alice Jane-Marie Massa

 

 

Once again, fifty years later,

meet me

at the Little Italy Festival.

This time,

follow the green, white, and red lines

down Ninth Street,

and meet me

at Immigrant Square,

west of the Coal Fountain,

in the striped shadows of the twenty-six flags

which represent countries

from where Clinton area residents

have immigrated.

 

Meet me

in front of the statue of the immigrant

Luigi,

with his one hand waving

and his other hand

holding a valise.

 

Meet me

by the drinking fountain

called “Il Toro”–

the Bull–

like Luigi,

crafted near my ancestral home,

in Torino.

 

Then, we will go

to the riverfront,

down the terraced banks

where Joe Airola

nurtured his grapevines.

On the Wabash River,

we will ride

in an authentic gondola.

 

Returning from our taste of Venezia,

we will eat spumoni

as we sit beside

the Quattro Stagioni Fountain,

listen to music of the main stage,

and absorb the chatter of festival-goers.

 

Back to Ninth Street,

we will tour the Little Italian House,

Il Mercato, and the Wine Museum

where you can buy my book.

Then, in the Wine Garden,

we can sit

under lush Grapevines and Hoosier stars,

sip Chianti,

listen to a polka band,

talk of old times

and fresh tomorrows.

 

Don’t be concerned:

at Immigrant Square,

in the midst of the crowd,

you will recognize me:

I will be the one

with the Black Labrador

guide dog.

Meet us.

 

 

Special Announcement:

 

My Book Will Be Sold

 

at the Little Italy Festival

 

(Clinton, Indiana)

 

 

I am very pleased to announce that print copies of my book The Christmas Carriage and Other Writings of the Holiday Season will be sold at the 2017 Little Italy Festival (Clinton, Indiana).  During the four days of Labor Day weekend, my book will be available at four locations at the festival.  From September 1 through September 4, you will have the opportunity to purchase my book at the gift shop in the Wine Museum and in El Mercato.  (Both of these buildings are on Ninth Street, near the Wine Garden.)  On the main festival grounds, throughout the Labor Day weekend, my book will be sold at the official souvenir booth of LIFT (Little Italy Festival Town).  On only the Saturday of the festival, my book will be available at the Clinton Public Library, during the special genealogy exhibit.

 

To learn more about the Little Italy Festival which has taken place each year since 1966, you may visit one of the following:

 

http://www.thelittleitalyfestival.org

 

https://www.facebook.com/littleitalyfestival/

 

Grazie to LIFT for selling my book during this year’s Little Italy Festival!

Also, special thanks to Clinton resident and longtime LIFT volunteer Mary Fornero for facilitating this opportunity for my book!

 

 

Best Wishes for a sunny and happy Labor Day weekend!

Alice Massa and Leader Dog Willow

 

August 30, 2017, Wednesday

 

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