A LIFE'S RAMBLES
Ramblas de una Vida
Joe Polacco was a successful Professor of Biochemistry who incorporated poetry into his teaching, research and in his collegial interactions. Much of his overseas experience was in Spanish-speaking countries and hence his poetry took on a Spanish alter ego. In each of the 28 chapters, Spanish-English versions are presented in rhyme, along with some prose background. The “genres” are multi-stanza limericks (limerepics), couplets, quatrains, acrostics, and lyrics to two blues/ballads. The moods go from poignant/sentimental to the irreverent earthy. Since the themes are from Joe’s professional and personal life, the poetry can be viewed as a rambling autobiographical excursion.
The ramble goes from Joe’s Brooklyn birthplace to Mid-Missouri, with layovers in Spain, Argentina, Honduras, and Cali, Colombia.
“De las calles de Brooklyn a los barrios de Cali
desde la pasta de mamá al matutino bialy
La vida es un largo camino sinuoso
Ay! que cada día sea bien venturoso”
From Brooklyn Streets to the barrios of Califrom momma’s pasta to a neighborhood bialyOur lives become a meandering rambleas we put fate and faith in each daily gamble