Paolo Agrati's 'Postumi da poesia' explores poets' lives with humor, set for stage adaptation

Paolo Agrati, a poet and performer born in Vimercate in 1974, has published 'Postumi da poesia' (Neo Edizioni, 2025), a book that humorously examines the lives of poets rather than presenting a traditional poetry collection. Originating from a podcast, the work will become a theatrical production in November, produced by Fondazione Solares and Teatro delle Briciole in Parma. Agrati aims to deconstruct the myth of the poet, revealing both the exceptional and ordinary aspects of poetry, using irony to bridge the gap between poet and reader. He discusses the fragility and failure inherent in poetry, referencing Chilean antipoet Nicanor Parra, and emphasizes that poetry should not be about victory or defeat. Agrati, who lists 'poet' on his ID card, co-organizes poetry slams in Milan and Italy with Davide Passoni and Ciccio Rigoli through SLAM Factory, an agency he founded in 2017 that collaborates with entities like Vogue, Coop Lombardia, and Zelig. His previous collections include 'Nessuno ripara la rotta' (La Vita Felice, 2012), 'Amore & Psycho' (Miraggi Edizioni, 2014), and 'Poesie Brutte' (Edicola Ediciones, 2019). Agrati's performances have been hosted at venues such as Palau de la Música in Barcelona, MIAMI music festival in Milan, and CartaCarbone literary festival in Treviso. He expresses a desire to die with projects still pending, valuing creative freedom over career.