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. In “Feeshamen’s
Wives” from Know Fish, the musical phrasing
and phonetic spelling capture the tonalities of the wives’ voices.
from: Know Fish (Storrs, CT: University of Connecticut Library) 1979.
courtesy: Vincent Ferrini