Emilio DeGrazia

“What Trees Know,” Poetry Reading performance November 11, 2021.

The program took place in the Spring Grove Cinema, followed by a reception and book signing with refreshments at Giants of the Earth Heritage Center.

Book Cover What Trees Know

Writer Emilio DeGrazia read from his book of poems, “What Trees Know” accompanied by his son musician-composer Dante DeGrazia on the piano. The sounds resonating from the stage reflected the sounds of classical music geniuses Chopin and Schubert. Emilio spoke on behalf of trees while telling a family story about a particular immigrant treeโ€”a fig tree in the familyโ€™s back yard in Winona. The poetry stems from a sprig his immigrant father brought with him from Italy through Ellis Island.ย 

Dr. Emilio DeGraziaโ€™s book of poems What Trees Know is available in the Kinneberg Gift Shop. The gift shop is open Monday-Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm.

Dr. Emilio DeGrazia

Poet and Professor Emeritus, Winona State University, was named to a two-year term in 2012 as official Poet Laureate of Winona, MN. Emilio DeGrazia, a long-time resident of Winona, MN, began publishing poetry and creative prose in 1973. He founded Great River Review, the stateโ€™s most enduring small press literary magazine, in 1977.

Dante DeGrazia

Dante DeGrazia studied music and English at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa. He performs professionally and is a member of four bands, including the Winona-based country-rock bank Texas Toast.ย 

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Article in The Caledonia Argus

Poet Dr. Emilio DeGrazia and musician/composer Dante DeGrazia perform in Spring Grove on Nov. 11

โ€œItโ€™s an author reading his poetry and his son playing the baby grand piano on stage at the Cinema to interpret the fatherโ€™s poetry,โ€ Giants of the Earth Heritage Center President Karen Gray explained.

Poet and Professor Emeritus, Winona State University, Dr. Emilio DeGraziaโ€™s poems inspired by a fig tree in the familyโ€™s back yard in Winona stems from a sprig his immigrant father brought with him from Italy through Ellis Island.

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