Go JoeGO Go! Poems for José Gouveia, Day Four: Louisa Clerici

Oddball Magazine will be publishing ongoing tributes to José Gouveia to in the hopes of raising awareness of the Joe Gouveia Recovery Fund, an effort to help offset the costs of the poet’s upcoming cancer surgery.

Art Gallery Café – Main Street, Hyannis

Warm August afternoon.
Art is everywhere on Cape Cod
from the tourist shops to the beaches of watercolor sand.
Wandering in Hyannis I see tie-dyed tee shirts and postcard prophets.
The word on Main Street is summer forever and this moment, now.
A gallery is alive with the energy of creation.
One after another, writers read their work,
facing an audience of those wondering what it’s all about,
when a tall bard with dark hair inhabits center stage,
draws us all into his story.
His words filled with real-life juice, other-worldly wisdom
and down-home sincerity with a little Portuguese spice sprinkled in,
adding the delicious flavors of homeland.
A performance poet who is courageous enough to grab the steering wheel,
guide us through pain and pleasure, leading us through lines that will survive forever.
Breathing revelation into our minds and hearts with simple words.
Inspiration and art is alive on Main Street.
Warm August afternoon.

Louisa Clerici’s stories and poetry have been published in anthologies and magazines including Carolina Woman Magazine, The Istanbul Literary Review, Davis, CA. Book Project, Ibbetson Street , Off the Coast and Best New England Crime Stories 2012. Louisa Clerici C.Ht is a writer; hypnotist and behavioral sleep coach at Clear Mind Systems.

“I had the great pleasure of hearing Jose Gouveia read for the first time in the late 90’s and many times through the years. I’ve enjoyed competing in poetry slams with him and his work continues to inspire me with its honesty and depth and the wonderful ability he has to reach in and touch every one of us with his words and wisdom. Hang in there Joe – we need many, many more years of your fabulous poetry!”