Morris Park octogenarian pens her debut literary collection
BY ROBERT WIRSING
“Remember, family and friends are
the most important parts of one’s life
so live every moment like it’s your last
while time vanishes.”
Morris Park octogenarian Theresa
Medici expresses these seldom ignored
truths in her self-published literary
debut, ‘Time Vanishes Like A Rose.’
Medici’s life experiences are shared
through her poems, prose and short
stories dedicated to friends and loved
ones who have helped her along this
journey.
For over a decade, Medici has written
about her lessons in love, life,
friends, family and humorous experiences
while traveling aboard.
Time Vanishes Like A Rose allows
its readers an intimate insight into
what Medici has learned through love,
faith, challenges, disappointments,
dreams, positive and negative experiences.
The result is a relatable and emotionally
driven read from start to fi nish.
One such piece, ‘Mother’s Sad Blue
Eyes,’ which is dedicated to Medici’s
late mother, is a particularly heartfelt
piece that makes readers more mindful
of what their loved ones have sacrifi
ced so that their children may live
a happy life.
Medici said that she has had readers
call her to express how much of an
impact her works have had on them.
Working in collaboration with her
friend Sheldon Norman, who created
the book’s iconic cover art, the duo
spent the past eight months creating
and producing the literary publication.
Each of Medici’s pieces express
what it means to be human by experiencing
BRONX TIMES REPORTER, M 46 AY 31-JUNE 6, 2019 BTR
love, loss, struggles and fi nding
peace in sometimes chaotic or routinefi
lled life.
Medici cites poets William Blake
and Robert Frost and novelist Mary
Shelley among her favorite literary luminaries.
Her passion for dance, politics and
music shine through in her intricate
rhymes and prose.
She explained that her book’s
thought provoking title was inspired
by her friend, Benjamin Schittone
who taught her everything she knows
about opera and philosophy.
“I remember Benjamin shared with
me a quote by the philosopher Omar
Khayyam which goes ‘Alas, that spring
should vanish with the Rose! That
Youth’s sweet-scented Manuscript
should close’,” Medici explained.
Much like Khayyam’s quote, Medici’s
book expresses lament at the passage
of time, but it also refl ects the joys
that its many memories bring.
Schittone’s photo collage titled
‘Yesterday’ depicting Medici and her
friends living in East Harlem during
their youth serves as a visual centerpiece
that captures the essence of Time
Vanishes Like A Rose’s theme.
“Each photo has behind it a story to
tell,” she expressed. “Some are gone,
but not forgotten.”
A section in the book called Puzzle
Pieces from Yesterday shares stories
behind each of the people and places
that make up the montage.
Medici confi rmed that she has
plenty of unpublished poems, prose
and short stories that she may include
in a future book.
She is planning on hosting Time
Vanishes Like A Rose readings at the
Starving Artist’s Cafe in City Island.
To purchase Time Vanishes Like
A Rose, visit www.lulu.com/shop/
theresa-medici/time-vanishes-likea
rose/paperback/product-24062116.
html?ppn=1.
Theresa Medici’s ‘Time Vanishes Like A Rose’
refl ects on memories and their fi nite nature.
Photo courtesy of Sheldon Norman
Theresa Medici is a Morris Park resident and
self-published author.
Photo courtesy of Theresa Medici
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