Palombo was born in Mendoza, Argentina in 1948. He was always entranced by words, joyfully playing with rhyme and meter that was also influenced by music, which was a deep part of his regional culture. Palombo's artistic journey began as an adolescent poet, which earned him recognition and a prestigious prize from the Sociedad Argentina de Escritores de Mendoza. His winnings were taken away when it was revealed that he was a teenager, and worse, an unpublished poet.

 

This was a critical moment for young Palombo, stirring his rebellious nature that was instinctually repelled by anything that was exclusive or pretentious, and in response he turned towards the song (el canto). He understood that it was the song that carried messages far and wide by easily breaking the barriers of culture and language, while being receptacles of stories, histories and messages that left an imprint on the soul’s memory. He felt that songs were powerful for the way they brought people together; songs were an important place for homage, history, memory and belonging.

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Palombo's song catalog reflects the way that songs are a need; they express what we don't have words for; they are absorbed deeply into us: into hearts, minds, and bodies, into hands and hips, shoulders and mouths. They give us the stories that were never written down. They teach us the poems that we didn't know existed, and don’t know yet how to read. And when we come together and sing them, we transform into a harmonic community that elevates our voices above all that is chimera, and brings us A Otro Lugar.

 

This collection, small example of his poetry in the form of the song, and a companion to the book A Otro Lugar: the poetry of songs.

Click here to get a copy at Arteidolia Press

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