If Bagni di Lucca continues to be a place of inspiration for painters and, especially, poets, it is due to very large extent to a person I consider to be perhaps its most distinguished citizen.

This person was born 92 years ago. His educational background was in science. He was a tennis champion and won many cups for his skill in this sport. He was mayor of Bagni di Lucca for ten years. He twinned our town with Longarone after the disastrous collapse of the dam in that north Italian town in which almost two thousand people died. This man gave shelter to those Longarone children who’d lost their parents for as long as they needed – not in tents but in fully equipped houses. He started writing and publishing poems quite by chance at the suggestion of friends and now has twenty four volumes to his credit, each one fully worthy of his extraordinary genius at finding the right word for everything and never wasting one of them, of being able to express so distinctly and so succinctly thoughts which for many of us lie too deep for words.

I am, of course talking of Mario Lena. Only a couple of days ago I was privileged to meet him near his home between Villa and Ponte. I presented him with my latest book of poems (which has both the English text and an Italian translation) and Mario was most pleased to accept. Indeed, Mario invited me to his house where we chatted and visited a place which is truly a poet’s house. Outside the building looks quite humble – indeed it was once a shepherd’s hut. Inside it is full of the civilized atmosphere which only a true poet can impart – a true Wordsworthian inspiration! (And, of course, it’s full of books!).

The house has a sweet little cottage garden which spreads along the river Lima giving a fresh breeze even in the height of the torrid summer we’ve been passing through.

Mario also loves cats who clearly adore him too.

Mario was gracious enough to recite to me a poem he keeps in the guest’s bedroom – a poem which, although reflecting the poet’s stance against organised religion (he has been a firm and true socialist all his life) was considered a prayer by our local parish priest Don Claudio when he visited Mario in order to bless his house:

There is also this very beautiful poem by Mario, inscribed on a plaque outside his house, donated by some of his admiring friends of which he has many. Some of Mario’s poems have even been translated into Arabic. Mario truly loved his wife who sadly died just over ten years ago.

When I sit in our house

I feel I’m in heaven

When I’ll be in heaven

I’ll think I’ll be in our house

By your side.

Mario, you are truly a living soul of poetry in Bagni di Lucca, indeed in the world but, above all, you are a great person whose company is so unique and so enjoyable. Thank you for sharing some of your time with me…