Day 15: Whack and L-A: Florence, twice

• Manja Maksimovič

Today, a tune and poem for all who don’t like rap, and photos for all who don’t like Florence. I didn’t like it much the first time either.

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Prompt 15: “Today, I’d like to challenge you to write a poem inspired by your favorite kind of music.” 

I listen most gladly to all kinds of music, the progression of my favourite bands was Duran Duran —> The Doors —> Pearl Jam, but I knew immediately which singer I’d be listening to while writing my poem, even before I read today’s resource, Fred Moten’s chapbook, Arkansas, from where I borrowed the second word in my poem.

Tierra Whack was a grand revelation for me recently when I stumbled upon her epic, 15-minute 15-song video Whack World. The best-rated comment says it all: “If you’re late to the party, it’s fine. The point is that we all got here.” 5.700 people in agreement are not wrong. I was inspired by many other comments and borrowed some more words from them for my poem. These are some cool people.

Have a look at it at least once in your life, but now I wish you to listen to and watch this live performance of Unemployed. Forget about what you think rap is. This is art on so many levels.

I listened to both songs while writing my poem and the words in quotation marks are hers. I didn’t quite expect to ever write anything like this.

Whack

Not Eyetalian
yet in Toscana,
seem white and yet
I’m from Lublana.
Like what they said for Luka:
He is not white,
he’s from the Ball-kans,
I can tell impressive
from pressing
on and on
like his effortless passing.
“I’m not perfect
but I improvise,”
exemplary,
legendary,
energetic,
elementary.
“Music is in my
Billy Jeans,”
and I rhyme blue
with orange
as if it’s a theme,
wanna show you
my folder
as if it’s a crime.
“Wanna be like me
when I get older”?
Sure, cause I get mine.
And if you’re late
to the party
it’s fine –
we’re on time.

And now to the photo part. Florence is a city that I visited exactly twice, no matter that we drive right by about six times each of the seven years that I’ve been living in the south of Tuscany.

The first time it was July, we parked far, walked a long time to the centre, spent a couple of hours there and then had to rush so that my guests could catch the train, which they missed. Not so good. The first eight photos are from there.

The second time was late October the next year, 2014, we learned to park above the city, at Piazzale Michelangelo for free, we descended through the beautiful Giardino delle Rose and reached the centre right when the golden light hit. Bingo! Also people seemed less, or I just learned to take photos through them. The remaining 13 photos are from the second visit. The famous Ponte Vecchio is featured both times.

I hope that Lens-Artists guest host for this week John Steiner, who asks us about the second time in a place, will be pleased with this presentation. We usually go with the flow and don’t plan too much, especially not from the photographic view. Italy is pretty all over and easily clickable.

  • The first contact with the city. Along the Arno river.
  • Getting closer.
  • Ponte Vecchio from the neighbouring bridge.
  • One iconic building plus people.
  • Statues plus people.
  • Another iconic building plus lots of people.
  • The most iconic bridge and the most people. Does this look weird to all of you too? Will we ever get used to the crowds again?
  • Rushing by I managed to capture this authentic looking studio. The artist was present and yelled something about not posting his art online? Maybe?
  • This is the next time. We parked with this view.
  • A statue in the Rose Garden.
  • Amore is dressed as the Cathedral.
  • Close up.
  • The light was getting ready.
  • I was not into shooting doors yet. I had yet to learn of Thursday Doors.
  • A glorious feeling.
  • Rather hard to describe. You need to be there.
  • Even the crane doesn’t disturb.
  • I could insert a riddle here. Who knows who this is?
  • In a parallel world Macchiavelli is my safe word.
  • This was an error of my camera’s judgement, but I like it how it is still recognisable.
  • Clearer and closer. I hope to see you again, Florence.

For Day 15 of NaPoWriMo 2020

and

for Lens-Artists Photo Challenge, guest-hosted by John Steiner at Journys with Johnbo: The second time around

43 thoughts on “Day 15: Whack and L-A: Florence, twice”

  4. Good words and pictures.
    People. People. People… as in Venice, I find that you need to take a left or a right, walk 2 blocks and all the tourists are gone. And you find treasures.
    We have several pix in common. Obviously. The bronze statue is already selected for my next Iltalian job. I believe it’s by Donatello. But what I normally do, when I post is to research on the spot. Florence images. Enter, ok, the statue is by, and the subject is… It may be David and Goliath but the head is a bit small.
    Ok. Couldn’t resist: it’s in Loggia dei Lanzi. It’s Perseus by Cellini… 😉Thank you. That research is done…
    Buona notte…🌜

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  9. Love the poem and the photos are amazing.😍 That light! I don’t mind the crane either–and there’s a crescent moon above it. Had to chuckle at your safe word in a parallel world. And the statue holding a severed head is of Perseus after he had slain Medusa. Thank you for this trip to Florence, dear Manja!

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      1. I don’t think we really know what we’re writing or have just written. I turn to my April poems later on, when my vision clears and my mind is capable of weighing them somewhat dispassionately. At the moment, they’re too close. It’s hard to tell where a poem ends and a poet begins.

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  11. I was somewhat relieved to read that you didn’t like Florence on your first visit either. I’ve only been there once and didn’t like it all – noisy, crowded, and smelly from all the scooters. Sometimes I think the city wasn’t given a fair chance to wow me and a do-over would be appropriate … the same for Venice. Sadly, I can’t see any travelling anywhere for a long time.

    Are there any glimmers of hope to come out of isolation soon in your corner of the world? As the virus is now racing through our province, I hear no news about Italy any more. I hope you and all your family continue to be well.

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    1. Hi, Joanne, good to see you! Thank you, all well here, but the province of Tuscany (and Liguria) is making it the law to wear a mask upon every exit from your home, which means that I need to wear one walking the dog, even though I don’t pass anybody. But cars are passing me and I think the penalty is 400 Eur… As for Florence and Venice, yes, my immediate response was no no, but then you realise that all those people are there for a reason. I wonder how this mass tourism will change now. All well to you and your men.

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      1. I should have read this comment before I read your most recent blog post and questioned you again.
        Masks are not required here but encouraged. I live in a neighbourhood where many people have been wearing masks outdoors for years anyway.

        Continue to be well, Manja! The stories we will tell when this is all over!!

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      2. Ha, I had a feeling that I’d answered you already. Wow, really? They already wore masks before that? I wonder if this is enough of an eye-opener for certain things to change. My suggestion is that people get a plot of land and we close everything like this every March and April. Hm… but this is not fair to the southern hemisphere. They require different months for garden work. (Says I who am not growing a thing.)

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      3. Even with a plot of land, I lack the ‘green skills’. I’m currently trying to keep a handful of houseplants alive. They ‘might’ make it. It’s still too early to call 😉

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  12. Wow! Fabulous collection of images. We were scheduled to visit here at the beginning of May. It would have been our first trip to Europe. It was not to be. We are now scheduled for a transatlantic cruise from Miami to Europe next April. I wonder if that will happen… and this beautiful city is not on our itinerary.

    I love the juxtaposition of the modern crane with the old building. A work of art and a technology statement all in one.

    Thanks for including the poem and video. In a way, the high speed rap reminds me of those counterculture artists of my youth. I knew them as “Beatniks”. As I listened, I thought how the video could have been a 33 rpm recording of a beatnik played back at 78 rpm. Of course, even writing that sentence tells you something about how ancient I am.

    Thanks for sharing!

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    1. You’re most welcome, John. 🙂 Everybody has plans collapsing left and right, but this is most unfortunate. First trip of Europe! I hope you can enjoy Europe next year, and maybe some other parts of Italy since Florence is not included. I’m really glad that I chose Florence for my post.

      I’m also glad that you’ve had a look at the poem and song as well. I love the Beatniks too, interesting correlation you pull. You’re not ancient, you’re long-lasting. 🙂 All well!

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  14. I love her rhythm, the quickness and then the pause. And the colors.

    You always find such blue skies.
    I was in Florence once 40 years ago and loved it, but I suspect it was quieter then. New York was quieter then too. (K)

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  16. Thanks for the new artist to listen for! I liked this song and I got a kick out of how she would smile in reaction to what she was saying. I love it when I spot people being present in their own moment, even while performing. Rhyming orange with blue – that was awesome. My last long-term love was with Arno. He was named after the river. And now, of course, I am unable to think of anything else when I see it or hear the name of the river. I think maybe I’ll have to visit it, to update my memories and crowd out the others. Or…maybe not and enjoy them still.

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  17. Pingback: Day 15 & Friendly Friday beneath our feet – An Embarrassment of Riches

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