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Italy is mine

... and it owes me a living

Art and Nature, music and literature, animal and human rights, freedom of thought and speech, kindness, culture and education without boundaries.

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Vera da Pozzo, an Italian expat in Paris.

From the Island of the Sun to the Isle of France.

My pseudonym Vera da Pozzo is a pun alluding to what I care about most : truth and loyalty, depth and insight. In my mother tongue, the syntagma "vera da pozzo" means a puteal, but it could be a female name followed by a family name. Water is indispensable for living, and we need to keep it pure and unpolluted; it is the same for truth.
I write in English because I love this language since my childhood and also because English allows me to have a more detached view on both Italy and France. The title of my personal website and blog is a paraphrasis of the verse "England is mine and it owes me a living", from Morrissey's song "Still Ill", released in The Smiths debut album "The Smiths" on 20th February 1984. As Italy had nothing to offer to young people like me, I decided to throw my arms around Paris, as Oscar Wilde did, and I am still here. Like francophone actor Lino Ventura, I am and I will always be Italian.

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In Memory of a Mystery: Tim Curry (1946-2026)

Such a sad coincidence: on the same day than Dolly Parton, Tim Curry (1946-2026) is dead, too. I wish to remember him with this short interview by CBS, posted on YouTube just two weeks ago: "The life and mystique of Tim Curry", and an extended version, posted on CBS YouTube channel in October 2025. The sad news of Tim Curry's death came to me from Morrissey Central. There are no words, indeed... I hope Tim Curry will find his beloved father, who died when he was just ten, and

More, and More, and More Good Things to Come

A lovely Blackbird: photo taken by me today. I zoomed a lot because I did not want to bother this fantastic bird by getting closer. I do like the involuntary "painting effect" on the metal railing. Short article and picture by me. Vera da Pozzo 26 August 2026 (C) Vera da Pozzo (C) Italy is Mine (C) Italy is Mine and It owes Me a Living #moreandmoreandmoregoodthingstocome #goodthingstocome #message #messenger #blackbird #VeradaPozzo #ItalyisMine #italyismineanditowesmealiving

It goes without saying, but it deserves to be said... and to be heard

I have found and read this article today and I am glad that Morrissey has read it, too. As I am not on IG, I have no idea of what is the link below the article: I will ask a French friend about it later. [Update: the IG reel is a video of a young bloke who plays the vocal part of This Charming Man on the bagpipes] About the article, I do not understand why the author expresses surprise and curiosity about the Gen Z enjoying Morrissey's music and attending to his concerts: I d

The very best part of America has gone - In memory of Dolly Parton (1946-2026)

There are people who should never die, and life is an absolute pigsty when it deserts them, as it is the case for Dolly Parton, a complete artist and a whole human being, whose integrity, talent, humour and strong personality represent the very best part of America, i. e., the United States. I wish the POTUS (I hate to even mention his name), who was born in the same year than Dolly Parton, did more than paying a tribute to her and followed her example: she was much more than

It was a month ago

It was just a month ago and it already seems an eternity... Barcelona, BARTS Festival: my last concert of Morrissey's Summer Tour. The awful flu I caught during the travel back to Italy stole me ten days and plenty of energy, thus I still have to update my article about the concert. Summer holidays are on their way out and I will enjoy these days the most and the best I can, in a peaceful place. Whatever the Hell happens in my life, I will stand firm. See you in December, my

The Unwanted One

You were the Unwanted One A difficult child who became An Unaccomplished Woman With a Distant Mother A quite Vulgar Husband And an Adopted Daughter You always leaned on Your Devoted Brother Who did his best to replace Your Late, Regretted Father He always held his Pain hidden While You became Ego-ridden Always needing a stage and a crowd You spoke and You laughed too loud An absolute Stranger to Me in Life When You died You forgot the Knife Stuck on my Back for What You did T

99 years ago - In memory of Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti

Red leaves announcing new roses to bloom. Photo taken by me this morning, in memory of Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti, Italian immigrants and anarchists, who were unjustly charged with armed robbery and murder and sentenced to death after a long, biased and irregular trial. Sacco and Vanzetti spent seven years imprisoned in Charlestwon prison in Boston and, despite many worldwide popular manifestations demanding their release, they were sent on the electric chair on 23r

Singing my Life

What will I sing tonight? If I have the chance, I will sing twice, But the bar is full and I am too tired To stay late in the night But I know well what I will sing: My Life To YOU Vera da Pozzo Somewhere in the North of Italy 21st August 2026 Short poem above and photo below by me. (C) Vera da Pozzo (C) Italy is Mine (C) Italy is Mine and It owes Me a Living #SingingmyLife #singyourlife #toYOU #songsthatsavedyourlife #VeradaPozzo #ItalyisMine #italyismineanditowesmealiving

Street Dogs, Dog Days and Kind People in Sicily

In Licata, a big village near Agrigento, Sicily, there is mercy, water, food and shade for the street dogs. Video on YouTube; screenshot of the video below with text added by the journal "La Stampa" from Turin. Sicilian street dogs and stray cats are part of my heart: I miss them as much as I miss the sea, the mountains and the monuments of the Island of the Sun where I was born. Their life is not easy, but there are kind people who care for them. Vera da Pozzo Somewhere far

Thunderstorm

I am waiting since this Morning Watching how the Lightning Strikes Are ripping up the Doomy Skies Thunders' roars are approaching They urge the Rain to fight Fate But the Sleeping Rain is late I've been waiting all Day long For the Thunderstorm to boom Now the Rain drowns the Doom I can sing my unsung Song Let my Message unfold To the One I do behold Vera da Pozzo Somewhere in the North of Italy 20th August 2026 Poem above and pictures below by me, of course. (C) Vera da Pozz

One month ago

If Time passes My Happiness Cannot vanish And I'll cherish All my life long The very Moment In your Song That We spent Shaking Hands For a while Smiling Friends You and I To YOU Vera da Pozzo 19th August 2026 Poem by me, of course. Below: detail of a picture taken by a French friend. (C) Vera da Pozzo (C) Italy is Mine (C) Italy is Mine and It owes Me a Living #onemonthago #shakinghands #smilingfriends #beautifulmemories #goodmemoriestocherish #happiness #joy #friendship #mus

Speranza, Isola and Oscar

I have just retrieved a 2019 article about the finding of rare pictures of "Speranza", Jane Francesca Agnes Elgee Wilde (1821-1896) and two of her children: her only daughter Isola Francesca Emily (1857-1867), who died few weeks before her tenth birthday, and her second and most famous son Oscar. Below: the photographs mentioned in the 2019 article linked above. Two literary projects I had to shelve - the first one in 2016, the second one in 2023 - crave for my attention, and

Happy Update

Good news from Morrissey: both 7-inch are on their way and they will be released on Oscar Wilde's birthday. After another failed attempt to have a chance to get my first passport, I did need some good news and (only God knows how) I knew that I would find them on Morrissey Central. I hope Bonfire of Teenagers will be released next year, before of after the new album announced two months ago. Below: two photos by me. Detail of the door of a church whose name and location I pur

Quiet, Peaceful Wisdom against Stupid, Violent Rage

A thought and an artwork by me, followed by some quotes by great people from the last century related to my reflections. In most cases, what drives people to spend all their time and energy in the attempt of ruining other people's lives by defaming, harassing and bullying them is not just envy, but a desperate need to fill their inner void, because they are unable to do something worthy and meaningful in their own lives. Vera da Pozzo, 18th August 2026 Below: a drawing I made

Sixteen Months

Sixteen Months is a long Time Longer than Eternity And the Distance is so far Huger than Infinity Like a Black Hole in my Dreams I cannot see your Shadow I cannot hear your Echo I have no Consolation To the Unique and Irreplaceable One Vera da Pozzo 17th August A. D. MMXXVI Poem above and photo below by me. (C) Vera da Pozzo (C) Italy is Mine (C) Italy is Mine and It owes Me a Living #SixteenMonths #poem #poetry #photography #memory #totheUniqueandIrrepleacebleOne #VeradaPozz

To be an Italian expat is a Kafkaesque Situation

Italy is mine and it owes me a living... and a passport for going to the United Kingdom. I could blame the UK for the ill-advised vote for Brexit, which, in the end, caused more problems than offering solutions to the UK citizens and, moreover, punished European citizens who worked and paid taxes in the UK, but who had temporary contracts (their bosses, as in Italy or in France, preferring a system of short-term contrats periodically renewed) and thus they were compelled to l

From Whispering to Howling

At last, a fresh Air Is whispering tonight: Long and Thin Fingers Running through my Hair, Gentle, Loving Lips Slipping over Me (Oh, You!) Suddenly, the Wind Is howling at my Window: All the Secret Passion, Now unfolded, Rushes in my Silent Room And your Whisper Sounds like Thunder And I cannot sleep To YOU Vera da Pozzo Somewhere in the North of Italy 16th-17th August 2026 Notes: I felt your Presence today and I dreamt about You last night. Poem and notes by me, of course. P

A Prayer for your Mother

I prayed for your Mother This morning, my Friend: It's all I can do, and I hope This tiny bit of Sweetness Will find a way to reach You And caress your Sadness To YOU Vera da Pozzo Somewhere in the North of Italy 13th August A. D. MMXXVI Poem above and photos by me. (C) Vera da Pozzo (C) Italy is Mine (C) Italy is Mine and It owes Me a Living #aPrayerforyourMother #prayer #mother #poetry #photography #memory #sadness #sweetness #friend #toYOU #VeradaPozzo

Eclipse

The Sun may be eclipsed by the Moon But No One can eclipse You in my Mind To YOU Vera da Pozzo Somewhere in the North of Italy 12th August 2026 Short poem above and photos below by me. (C) Vera da Pozzo (C) Italy is Mine (C) Italy is Mine and It owes Me a Living #Eclipse #Sun #Moon #poem #poetry #photography #noonecaneclipseyou #toYOU #VeradaPozzo #ItalyisMine #italyismineanditowesmealiving

Back to Bic

It has been a while since I drew something: the flu robbed me a lot of time and energy. Today, I am back to Bic - i. e., the classic quatre couleurs ballpen - and here is my new artwork: a portrait of Morrissey before the concert in Zurich, five months and four days ago. As usual, I made this portrait without preparatory sketch. Vera da Pozzo 11th July 2026 (C) Vera da Pozzo (C) Italy is Mine (C) Italy is Mine and It owes Me a Living #BacktoBic #ballpen #art #drawing #artwork

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