When the pandemic hit in March, Gregory Joseph Firlotte decided it was time to sort through a lifetime of poetry he had written for his own reading and publish a book about his beloved New England. The aptly-named In This New England features poems in rhyme and free verse about the people, places, events and iconic foods of the region. A native of Gardiner, Maine — home to one of his poetic heroes Edwin Arlington Robinson — Firlotte grew up surrounded by history at almost every turn (he’s a descendant of two Mayflowerpassengers on his mother’s side) and thus had lots of memories and experiences throughout New England to draw upon. Though now living in Los Angeles, Firlotte has traveled to New England off and on over the years, staying in touch with his roots and finding more poetic inspiration along the way.
“The book has come out at a time when many people cannot travel here. So, I hope my poems provide a few moments of pure escape and bring back some memories as well,” notes Firlotte. In the book, one will find poems about such places as Boston, Salem, Franconia Notch, Vermont’s Craftsbury Common, the Longfellow Statue in Portland and there are also photos taken by Firlotte and his brother sprinkled throughout which provide a visual connection for those not familiar with the region, its landmarks, place names or foods.
“If my book can generate interest in New England in any way, then it has been successful,” he remarks. “There is so much to explore and savor within these six states that one can spend a lifetime enjoying and never tire of it — even if it’s only the scenic beauty and distinctive foods that have defined New England over the centuries.”
The 180-page softcover book was released September 21 on Amazon and is being followed up by another book, also with the theme of New England, scheduled for early Spring 2021.
About the Author
Gregory Joseph Firlotte grew up in Gardiner, Maine in a very creative household — his mother was a poet and writer and his father an artist and musician. At high school graduation in 1971, he received First Prize for his essay on freedom; and later in 1981, his interview with famed, but then-reclusive, Maine senator Margaret Chase Smith was published in the Maine Sunday Telegram and he has been writing publicly ever since. Over the years, his feature stories and photography on art, interior design and architecture have appeared worldwide in such publications as Architectural Digest, The Los Angeles Times, World of Interior Magazine, Veranda Magazine and LA Design Magazine to name a few. In This New England is the first time his poetry has been presented to the public