How Do You Spell the Sound of Crickets

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How Do You Spell the Sound of Crickets

Seacliff poet Paola Bruni is co-author of a slim book of poetry, “how do you spell the sound of crickets,” with Jory Post, who died of pancreatic cancer in January 2021 at 70.

The two made acquaintance at a workshop on writing letters in poetry form in 2019 where they were paired up to write letters to each other.

Post, who published his first collection of poems at 69, challenged Bruni to write 50 poems — 25 each — before his time was up. So began their letter exchange.

Bruni, in her preface to the book, admits there were times when she “felt burdened by the strange and complex weight of our writing.”

She adds, “I didn’t want to be sentimental or sad. I didn’t want to be inhibited. Easier said than done.”

As for Post, Bruni writes, “I believe that Jory was placed on this earth to write.”

He was co-founder of Santa Cruz Writes (a program to encourage young writers) and phren-z literary magazine.

He filled journals with notes on his experiences in treatment, turning them into poetry.

In “take me when I’m empty,” he writes, “Keep me alive.”

Although he did not live to see the book in print, the words that he wrote are alive on the page. n •••

Here is an excerpt from a poem by Paola Bruni:

Photo Credit: Annie K. Rowland

Forgiveness

But what of sharp words – fissures

Photo Credit: Jon Silver

Jory Post

and hammers, pointy ends of the uttered? Feral thoughts splitting out—egoic mind dealing its dung of defense. How small am I inside this creature self, animal of want and must have. Sifu says I’m a sieve, leaking chi,

I want to touch everyone, to lure, be loved despite offenses, agendas, failures. I’m working on forgiveness. Did you know the Chinese hanzi for the term martial arts are characters for stop and fighting? •••

Paola Bruni has lived at Seacliff Beach for 20 years. The book costs $14 and can be purchased at: Bookshop Santa Cruz, Two Birds Books, Kelly’s Books, and at https://www.paola bruniwriter.com/, through Paper Angel Press https://unrulyvoices.com/product/how-do-youspell-the-sound-of-crickets/ and on Amazon.