Word from John Gery about Brunnenburg 08
Dear Brunnenburgers 2008:
I very much look forward to meeting (or re-meeting) each of you in Munich or Italy, and to working with you on Ezra Pound and poetry writing at Brunnenburg in a few weeks. I hope your travel preparations are proceeding well. If you haven’t yet, please complete the travel information soon, so I will know what flight to expect you on in Munich, if you are arriving there on 19 June.
I myself will be leaving the U.S. for Europe on 26 May, so if you have any last-minute questions or concerns you wish me to address, please let me know by email or telephone (504) 482-3944 this week. I should have some email contact between 26 May and 19 June, but it may not be entirely dependable.
A couple of other reminders:
1. Please read my letter of acceptance carefully, to be sure that you will have with you the required texts (especially Pound’s Personae, The Cantos of Ezra Pound, and Ridl’s 250 Poems, as these are for daily use), as well as enough (12-15) copies of at least three of your own poems for class distribution, a notebook, etc. Check the Brunnenburg website ( http://lowres.uno.edu/brunnenburg/whattobring.htm ) and Jennifer Stewart’s blog site (http://unopress.org/blog/2008/03/18/what-to-expect-at-brunnenburg-from-the-coordinator/ ) for proper dress for the castle and Italy. Bring adaptable clothing, but remember that it can be quite cool at Brunnenburg at night, so bring at least 1-2 outer garments or layeres of clothing, in case you need them. I also recommend good walking shoes, both for Dorf Tirol and for Venice, and at least one “dressier” change of clothes for special occasions (concerts, formal dinners).
2. Remember that we will all be guests of the de Rachewiltz family, living at their home which they have opened for us for the time we will be there. Our living conditions will be simple yet comfortable, and for the month, you may want to decide to leave certain kinds of typical American contraptions (hair dryers, electric shavers, etc.) at home. As we have just learned, there is now an Internet connection at the castle itself, so bring computers/printers if you intend to use them for your own writing on site. But it may be difficult to print texts, and computers are not absolutely necessary, if you would rather leave them at home. There are also Internet cafes in nearby Merano and in Venice, and at least one computer for use in Dorf Tirol, for those who want periodically to check email in the village; telephone calls can also be made in the village. Remember to tell your family and friends here that, except for emergencies, they should only call Brunnenburg directly during our lunch hour (1-2:30 pm, Brunnenburg time, which 7-8:30 am EST and 6-7:30 am CST in the U.S.). Otherwise, you may want to purchase a cell phone in Italy, if you think it is worth the cost.
3. Traditionally, visitors to Brunnenburg come bearing modest gifts and poems to show our appreciation of the de Rachewiltz family, so it would be VERY NICE if you can manage to bring something small with you for the family. Often Brunnenburgers bring something unique that represents their home region or city, for instance. Others prefer to bring a literary gift (or even to write and/or perform music for the occasion). You certainly need not bring anything elaborate or expensive. In early July, Mary de Rachewiltz, Ezra Pound’s daughter, will be celebrating her 83rd birthday, so it will be especially appropriate to bring something for Mary; we will find an opportunity to wish her a happy birthday during our stay.
In addition, Siegfried de Rachewiltz (Pound’s grandson, known as Sizzo) and Brigitte de Rachewiltz (Sizzo’s wife and our daily chef who is famous for her fabulous cooking) will be our hosts. Sizzo is curator of the Schloss Tirol, the major castle of the South Tirol, and if we ingratiate ourselves to him, he just might give us a tour of Brunnenburg and/or Schloss Tirol; he is the leading expert on the region where we will be living. Sizzo and Brigitte have two sons, Mickey and Nick, in the early twenties, who may also be in residence, so a small family gift might be nice. Finally, Mary’s other child, her daughter Patrizia, an artist and poet who now lives in Holland, may join us during our stay.
4. As soon as possible, do let Jennifer know your travel plans, if you haven’t already, so I will know to look for you at the Munich Airport, at the Cafe Treffpunkt, located directly next to the “Meeting Point” between Concourse B and Concourse C, between 8 am and 2 pm on Monday, June 6. I myself should arrive by noon.
Our objective at Brunnenburg is to work hard and to play hard, as well as to take advantage of the unique benefits of our location, unlike any other you will find. Again, let me know soon if you have concerns. Have a safe trip.
John
John R.O. Gery, Research Professor of English
& Director, Ezra Pound Center for Literature
Department of English
University of New Orleans
New Orleans, LA 70148-2315