Neruda feast

This year marks the centenary of Pablo Neruda, the poet called “the greatest poet of the 20th century, in any language” by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. Neruda was born in Chile, wrote over 35 books of poetry and won the 1971 Nobel Prize for Literature.

A bilingual poetry reading in honor of Pablo Neruda will be held at the Phoenix Theatre July 12; 236-9015.

There will be a bilingual poetry reading to celebrate Neruda’s hundredth year at the Phoenix Theatre on Monday, July 12, 6-9 p.m. This is a rare chance for poets and poet-lovers to feast on Neruda’s great banquet of language. The reading is free and open to the public. Call Ricardo or Olga Parra for reservations as seating is limited: 236-9015. The Phoenix Theatre is located at 749 N. Park Ave.

From Poetry by Pablo Neruda …

And it was at that age … Poetry arrived
In search of me. I don’t know, I don’t know where
It came from, from winter or river.
I don’t know how or when,
No, they were not voices, they were not
Words, nor silence,
But from a street I was summoned,
From the branches of night,
Abruptly from the others,
Among violent fires
Or returning alone,
There I was without a face
And it touched me.