VINCENT FERRINI
Gloucester’s great poet VINCENT FERRINI
(1913-2007) became Poet Laureate of Gloucester in 1998, capping
a half-century of literary achievement in the city. Ferrini’s
seven book poem Know Fish (1979-1991) uses fish and
fishing as metaphors to explore and embrace all that is Gloucester. Know
Fish and Charles Olson’s Maximus poems together
give Gloucester its own unrivaled body of epic poetry. Ferrini
and Olson were friends, and Ferrini is addressed directly in
the Maximus poems. Vincent Ferrini grew up in Lynn, MA, and
his notable first book No Smoke (Gloucester MA: Curious
Traveler Press 1999 rpt.) depicted Lynn during the Depression.
Throughout his years in Gloucester, Vincent Ferrini was
vocal in civic affairs and wrote a steady stream of influential
plays and books of poetry. “The Bone Shop of Eastern
Point,” from Know Fish, spins a tale of madness
and tragedy and reinforces a feminine imprint on Eastern Point.
from: Know Fish (Storrs, CT: University of Connecticut Library) 1979.
courtesy: Vincent Ferrini
