Dr. Arch. Franca Colozzo is a woman whose life cannot be described in a few simple words, because her journey is wide, deep, and full of different paths that come together in one clear direction: to connect people and to give meaning to culture, art, and human values. She was born in Gaeta, a small town in Italy by the sea, a place where history and beauty live side by side, and this environment helped shape her sensitivity from a young age. Growing up surrounded by ancient buildings, light, and the rhythm of the sea, she developed a natural love for art, architecture, and history. This love became a serious path when she studied architecture at the famous University “La Sapienza” in Rome, where she graduated with top honors. Her studies were not only technical; they were also human and cultural, because she focused on how to protect historical centers and give them new life, showing early on her desire to connect past and future, tradition and innovation. Even at a young age, she showed strong dedication and creativity, publishing her first book about art when she was only twenty-one years old, a clear sign that she was not only a student but already a creator and a thinker.
Her life took an important turn when she moved abroad to Istanbul, in Turkey, where she worked as a teacher for many years on behalf of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This experience was not just a job; it was a deep human and cultural journey. Teaching in a foreign country is never easy, especially when language and culture are different, but Franca Colozzo did not see these differences as problems. Instead, she saw them as opportunities to learn and to build connections. She studied the Turkish language to better understand her students and their world, and at the same time she improved her knowledge of other European languages such as English, French, Spanish, and German. Her classroom became a meeting place of cultures, where art and drawing were used as universal tools to communicate beyond words. She organized exhibitions, projects, and cultural events in important schools and universities in Istanbul, helping to spread Italian culture while also respecting and learning from the local culture. Through her work, she built a bridge between East and West, showing that education can go beyond books and become a living dialogue between people.
After returning to Italy, she continued to bring this international experience into her teaching and professional life, sharing with her students not only knowledge but also a global vision. She organized exhibitions to show the creative work of young students and encouraged them to think freely and express themselves through art. Over time, she decided to retire from formal teaching, but she never stopped working. She continued as a freelancer, always active, always engaged, always ready to create and share ideas. Alongside her work as an architect and teacher, she developed a strong identity as a poet, writer, and artist. Her writing is simple in language but deep in meaning, making it accessible to many people from different backgrounds. She writes about life, memory, human suffering, hope, peace, and the beauty of existence, often touching on important global issues such as war, refugees, environmental problems, and women’s rights. Her poems and writings have been published in many international anthologies and translated into different languages, allowing her voice to travel across borders and cultures.
Franca Colozzo is also deeply involved in global humanitarian and cultural work. Over the years, she has collaborated with many international organizations and initiatives connected to peace, sustainability, and human rights. She has taken part in important global discussions, including activities related to the United Nations and its goals for sustainable development. She has served as a representative in international forums focused on women’s rights and social progress, showing her commitment not only through words but also through action. She has been recognized as an Ambassador of Peace by several organizations from different countries, including Pakistan, India, the United Kingdom, and others, and she has worked to promote dialogue, understanding, and cooperation between cultures. Her role in these organizations is active and meaningful, as she contributes ideas, writes articles, and participates in initiatives that aim to create a better and more just world. She also works as an executive director in organizations focused on sustainability and climate change, showing her concern for the future of the planet and the importance of responsible action.
Throughout her life, Franca Colozzo has received many awards, recognitions, and honorary degrees from international institutions, which reflect the value and impact of her work. She has won poetry competitions, received certificates of merit, and been included in important literary collections around the world. However, what truly defines her is not the number of awards she has received, but the consistency of her commitment to learning, creating, and helping others. She has always believed in the importance of teamwork, dialogue, and goodwill, and she has lived according to these values in every part of her life. In the digital age, she continues her mission through social media and online platforms, where she has created groups that bring people together to discuss topics such as women’s empowerment, human solidarity, and global cooperation. She also shares her work through a YouTube channel and a podcast, where she talks about human rights and presents her literary creations, including her novel inspired by her experience in Turkey.
Her life shows clearly that identity is not limited to one place or one role. She is Italian, but she is also deeply connected to many parts of the world. She speaks many languages, but her strongest language is the language of empathy and understanding. Her multicultural experiences have shaped her into a person who sees diversity as a strength and not as a division. She believes that through education, art, and communication, people can learn to respect each other and work together for a common future. This belief guides all her work and gives meaning to her long and rich journey. Even today, she continues to write, to participate, and to inspire others, showing that there is no real end to a life dedicated to culture and humanity. Her story is a powerful example of how one person, with determination, curiosity, and an open heart, can build bridges between different worlds and contribute to a more connected and compassionate global society.
***
PARADISE LOST
by Franca Colozzo
If humans were reasonable enough
There would be no war under this sky
Satan advances in waves of tsunami
Along with his dragons, fakes and liars.
“Paradise Lost” cannot be understood
Written by Milton with intention
To show Adam how foolish he was
In losing the best place of creation.
Now Gaza is under bombs,
Israeli soldiers invade everywhere,
Women and children try to escape.
Where is God, too high in the universe
Full of hate and without discernment?
If people were wiser and more kind, maybe there would be no war under this sky. But evil moves like a great wave, like a storm that comes again and again. Lies grow, and false voices become strong. It feels like darkness is walking freely among us, and truth is often lost. The idea of Paradise Lost reminds us of an old story, where a perfect place was given to humanity, but it was lost because of a mistake. It shows how fragile beauty is, and how easily we can lose what is good when we do not understand its value. Today, pain returns in new forms. In places like Gaza, bombs fall and fear spreads. Women and children run, searching for safety. In these moments, people ask where God is, why there is so much suffering, and why the world feels so full of anger and confusion.
°°°
CROSSING OVER IN RED
©Franca Colozzo – ITALY
When I die, dress me in red
To celebrate the joy of my crossing over.
Jasmine flowers in my long hair
To meet woodland and sea nymphs.
Give me a rosary in hand as a prayer
To God so that He may forgive my sins.
In the afterlife, we are all equal and brothers,
Men here struggling in grotesque battalions
Of puppet warriors in rows of demons.
When Atropos cuts the thread of life
Let eternal youth smile upon me.
Scatter incense on my bare feet.
I will encounter galaxies in vivid colors,
Touch Selene in a flash of light
And carry a ray of sunshine with me.
When I die, do not weep, I beg you,
Let my dress be of a cheerful color
A spark of life lit in the darkness.
When I leave this life, I want to be dressed in red, a color of joy and life, not of sadness. I imagine flowers in my hair, soft and fragrant, as if I am going to meet a new world full of beauty and light. In my hands, I hold a prayer, asking for peace and forgiveness as I cross into something unknown but calm. In that place beyond life, all people are equal, without division or struggle. The battles of this world disappear, and the pain of conflict fades away. When the moment comes that life ends, I hope to feel young again, free and light, touched by something eternal and gentle. I dream of traveling through stars and colors, touching the light of the moon, and carrying a small piece of sunshine with me. I ask those who stay behind not to cry, but to remember me with brightness, like a small flame that continues to shine even in darkness.
PANDORA’S BOX
©Franca Colozzo – ITALY
It travels miles light
a cry left unburied.
Memory now grieves and tears scattered
now dried up by the sun.
Arid, the desert cries out for justice
but nothing moves under masks
of rigid iron,
all is subject to the empire of evil
that knows no respite,
only power and money.
The present is so bitter
as gall, and silent is the waiting
that hopes for spring.
Nothing but desolation
Among incubated shrubs in embryo,
nor flowers or new loves.
Even the swallows
Fear to tease in flight
and gulls seek food elsewhere,
no longer in the sea,
but where only stray cats
rummage through trash and weeds.
Uncovered is Pandora’s box,
lonely is the bastard song
of those who seek and do not find,
crowding dreams among barbarians
forgiveness in a dark time
that knows no reason.
Only shadows stagnate
among the rubble of torn houses.
Corpses, mowed down by hatred,
shout vengeance to the sky.
There is a cry that travels far, a cry that was never buried, a pain that remains in memory. Time passes, and tears dry under the sun, but the suffering does not disappear. The world feels empty and dry, like a desert waiting for justice that never arrives. The present feels bitter and heavy. Hope waits silently, like a quiet wish for spring that does not come. Life seems still, without flowers, without new love, without joy. Even birds are afraid to fly freely, and the sea no longer gives life as before. Everything feels lost and abandoned. It is as if a hidden box has been opened, releasing sorrow and despair. Dreams are crowded and confused, and people search for meaning but find only silence. Among broken homes and ruins, shadows remain, and the pain of those who suffered rises to the sky, asking for justice.
WAIT FOR ME AT THE THRESHOLDS OF TIME…
©Franca Colozzo – ITALY
I was not alone at the edge of the wood, beyond the hedge…
I was not uncertain light on the path.
Did I stumble, did I fall? Am I guilty perhaps?
But you were there at the end, reaching out your hand to me.
Light feather hanging in the wind,
Dangling here and there between impervious slopes
Light leaps like beating wings,
angelic presences always beside me.
I speak to them, voiceless voices answer me,
silence made spirit, musical essence.
You, enclosed in silence, make time flow
in the hourglass, insensitive biological converter,
mocking us men defenceless against certain death,
dark corner in which we always stray.
Calm ocean is time in its stagnant stillness,
rippling with life, sparks in motion,
crescendo of flexuous waves dying on the shore,
tide of thoughts oscillating between being and becoming.
But I stop the moment before nothingness,
elusive instant, I will stop the moment to meet you
beyond the threshold of this inhuman time,
plagued by pandemic and war.
Beyond the space of this earthly life,
mirror of infinite lives where I meet
your gaze that I recognize among millions.
You cannot escape the ineluctable fate…
There was a moment when I was not alone, even when I felt lost. I walked a path full of questions, unsure of myself, wondering if I had made mistakes. Yet, at the end, there was a hand waiting for me, a presence that gave me comfort and hope. Around me, there was a quiet world made of light and spirit, something beyond words. Time moved slowly, like sand falling in an hourglass, reminding us that life passes and that we cannot escape its end. Still, within this silence, there was a hidden music, a gentle connection between what we see and what we feel. Time can be calm like the ocean, but also full of movement and change. Thoughts rise and fall like waves, and life continues between what we are and what we can become. In this flow, there is always a moment that feels almost eternal. I hold onto that moment, just before everything fades, hoping to meet again the one I recognize beyond time. Beyond this life, beyond pain and fear, there is a space where souls meet again, where love continues, and where nothing is truly lost.
BASTET, my name is
©Franca Colozzo – ITALY
I inhale your perfume from galactic distances,
It smells of jasmine, The flower of repressed freedom,
Of sacred mountains and abyssal depths.
I inhale your essence carried by the wind
Between worlds stolen from the stars.
Who knows who I am:
Cosmic dust or
dream lost in the meanders of time
stranded on yesterday’s shores?
Who am I to judge others
or by others to be judged?
Today I no longer find myself among humans,
perhaps among those of yesterday or tomorrow…
I no longer know who I am.
Verily I say unto you, to be born human
it would be good if the taste for truth
would not leave us here lost
in an ephemeral void of ideals.
Today I find myself defending cats guilty of being born
in a world polluted by humans,
made imperfect by the foolish idea of perfection,
of believing they have power over everything,
to destroy, to annihilate, to dictate
an order sickened by madness.
Perhaps Bastet is watching me from the past
And I find myself Cat-Goddess among Egyptian Sphinxes
In procession in ancient Thebes.
Who am I?
Perhaps, a dream suspended over an abyss
Between yesterday’s ghosts and a thousand lives?
I have found you again, impossible dream,
far away you appear to me, yet close to me,
attentive to the astral worlds,
oh, inscrutable vital essence!
At last, time and space are unlocked
By the quantum laws of physics
And you belong to the past,
Present you are in my dreams.
Who am I? BASTET, my name is.
I feel a presence from far away, like a perfume carried by the wind, soft and deep. It speaks of freedom, of mystery, of something ancient and sacred. It feels like a connection between worlds, something beyond what we can see. Sometimes I ask myself who I really am. Am I just a small part of the universe, or a dream that moves through time? It is hard to know. Life changes us, and we often feel lost between the past and the future, searching for truth. In this world, I sometimes feel distant from others, as if I do not fully belong. I see how humans try to control everything, how they damage the world and forget simple truths. I feel closer to nature, to animals, to innocence that does not harm. There is a memory, like an ancient image, where I see myself connected to something greater, something symbolic and strong. Like a figure from another time, I feel both human and something more, something that carries meaning across history. In the end, I still ask who I am, but I also accept the mystery. I am part of time, part of dreams, part of something infinite. And in that space, I find a name, a symbol, a quiet answer.
EUROPE’S CRY
In this month of March
between cold lashings
of wind and warm sirocco
A wave of discouragement rises in me
Looking at my sea in the distance.
Pale ghost on the horizon
Of S. Stefano the islet appears
Hidden behind the Ventotene isle
As a sailing ship suspended to observe
The “Manifesto of Europe”
Vile champion of armies now.
Yet talkative Spring
Comes to awaken the barren clods
Frozen with cold and pain
Of people without more comfort
Continuous hostage of war,
Not crying or heartfelt appeals,
Only the weapons are the masters.
Oh, servile Europe, you bow your head
You don’t look for the ways of peace.
Where arms speak, the reason is silent.
From isolated fascist captivity
The Founding Fathers’ cry comes
To Europe that the lesson ignores
Even if imparted by history.
A nightmare now it seems to me
The last year was spent wishing
The war in the heart of Europe
Could just become a passing shadow,
Not transformed into a big storm
Amid the general indifference
Where seems lost even the reason.
Europe weeps and sets off sadly
Towards the dreaded apocalypse
As the battle escalates
Indifferent armies speak
To useless human suffering,
People bloodied by marauders
So are the sellers of cannons.
All rights reserved © Franca Colozzo
In the cold and changing days of March, between strong winds and warmer air, a feeling of sadness rises while looking at the sea. The horizon appears distant and quiet, but behind that calm there is a deep concern for what is happening in the world. Spring arrives, but it does not bring only joy. The earth feels heavy with pain, and people continue to suffer because of war. There are no real cries heard, only the sound of weapons, as if violence has become stronger than human voices. Europe seems tired and silent, unable to find the path to peace. History has already given many lessons, but they are often forgotten. The voices that once called for unity now feel distant, as if they are no longer heard. What was once hope now feels like a dark dream. War continues, growing slowly, while many people remain indifferent. Pain spreads, and reason seems to disappear in the noise of conflict. Europe cries quietly, moving toward an uncertain future. Battles continue, and people suffer without meaning. Blood and pain fill the land, while those who profit from war continue their work. And in all this, humanity feels lost, searching for a way back to peace.
***
FRANCA COLOZZO: UNA VITA CHE COSTRUISCE PONTI TRA PERSONE, CULTURE E SOGNI
La Dott.ssa Arch. Franca Colozzo è una donna la cui vita non si può raccontare con poche parole, perché il suo percorso è ampio, ricco e pieno di esperienze diverse che si uniscono in una direzione chiara: mettere in contatto le persone e dare valore alla cultura, all’arte e all’umanità. È nata a Gaeta, una città italiana sul mare, un luogo dove la storia e la bellezza convivono ogni giorno, e proprio questo ambiente ha influenzato la sua sensibilità fin da giovane. Crescendo tra edifici antichi, luce e paesaggi marini, ha sviluppato un amore naturale per l’arte, l’architettura e la storia. Questo interesse è diventato un percorso concreto quando ha studiato Architettura all’Università “La Sapienza” di Roma, dove si è laureata con il massimo dei voti. I suoi studi non erano solo tecnici, ma anche profondamente umani, perché si è concentrata sul recupero dei centri storici e sul loro riuso, mostrando già allora il desiderio di unire passato e futuro. Giovanissima, a soli ventuno anni, ha pubblicato il suo primo libro d’arte, dimostrando subito grande impegno, curiosità e capacità creativa.
Un momento molto importante della sua vita è stato il trasferimento a Istanbul, in Turchia, dove ha insegnato per diversi anni per conto del Ministero degli Affari Esteri italiano. Questa esperienza non è stata solo professionale, ma anche umana e culturale. Insegnare in un Paese diverso non è semplice, soprattutto quando lingua e tradizioni sono lontane, ma Franca Colozzo ha visto in queste differenze una possibilità di crescita. Ha studiato la lingua turca per comunicare meglio con gli studenti e, nello stesso tempo, ha perfezionato altre lingue europee come inglese, francese, spagnolo e tedesco. La sua classe è diventata uno spazio di incontro tra culture diverse, dove il disegno e la storia dell’arte erano strumenti per comunicare oltre le parole. Ha organizzato mostre, progetti e attività culturali in scuole e università importanti di Istanbul, contribuendo a diffondere la cultura italiana e allo stesso tempo imparando da quella turca. In questo modo ha costruito un vero ponte tra Oriente e Occidente, dimostrando che l’educazione può essere un dialogo vivo tra persone.
Dopo il rientro in Italia, ha continuato a portare questa esperienza internazionale nel suo lavoro, trasmettendo agli studenti non solo conoscenze, ma anche una visione aperta del mondo. Ha organizzato mostre per valorizzare il lavoro creativo dei giovani e li ha incoraggiati a esprimersi liberamente. In seguito ha lasciato l’insegnamento, ma non ha mai smesso di essere attiva. Ha continuato a lavorare come libera professionista e a dedicarsi alla scrittura, all’arte e alla ricerca. Infatti, oltre ad essere architetto e docente, è anche poetessa, scrittrice e artista. La sua scrittura è semplice nel linguaggio ma profonda nei contenuti, e per questo può essere compresa da persone di culture diverse. Nei suoi testi parla della vita, del tempo, della memoria, della sofferenza e della speranza, ma anche di temi importanti come la pace, i diritti umani, i rifugiati, l’ambiente e il ruolo delle donne nella società. Le sue opere sono state pubblicate in molte antologie internazionali e tradotte in diverse lingue, permettendo ai suoi pensieri di viaggiare nel mondo.
Negli anni, Franca Colozzo ha partecipato anche a molte attività internazionali legate alla pace, alla sostenibilità e alla giustizia sociale. Ha collaborato con organizzazioni di diversi Paesi e ha preso parte a iniziative legate agli obiettivi globali delle Nazioni Unite. Ha partecipato a incontri importanti dedicati ai diritti delle donne e allo sviluppo sociale, dimostrando un impegno concreto oltre la scrittura. È stata nominata Ambasciatrice di Pace da varie organizzazioni internazionali provenienti da Paesi come Pakistan, India, Regno Unito e altri, e ha lavorato per favorire il dialogo tra culture e popoli. Inoltre, ha ricoperto ruoli importanti in organizzazioni che si occupano di sostenibilità e cambiamenti climatici, mostrando attenzione anche per il futuro del pianeta. Il suo lavoro è sempre stato guidato dal desiderio di contribuire a un mondo più giusto e solidale.
Nel corso della sua lunga carriera ha ricevuto numerosi riconoscimenti, premi e lauree honoris causa, segno dell’importanza del suo impegno a livello internazionale. Ha ottenuto premi di poesia, attestati di merito e partecipazioni in raccolte letterarie globali. Tuttavia, ciò che rende speciale il suo percorso non è solo il numero dei premi, ma la continuità del suo impegno. Non ha mai smesso di imparare, di insegnare e di creare. Ha sempre creduto nel valore del lavoro di squadra e nella forza della buona volontà. Anche oggi, nell’era digitale, continua a essere attiva sui social media, dove ha creato gruppi dedicati alla solidarietà, ai diritti umani e al ruolo delle donne. Utilizza internet come uno strumento per unire le persone, condividere idee e promuovere valori positivi. Gestisce anche un canale YouTube e un podcast, dove parla di diritti umani e presenta le sue opere, tra cui un romanzo ispirato alla sua esperienza in Turchia.
La sua vita dimostra che l’identità non è qualcosa di chiuso, ma qualcosa che cresce con le esperienze. È italiana, ma è anche profondamente legata al mondo. Parla molte lingue, ma il suo linguaggio più forte è quello dell’empatia e della comprensione. Le sue esperienze multiculturali le hanno insegnato che le differenze non devono dividere, ma arricchire. Crede che attraverso l’educazione, l’arte e il dialogo si possano costruire relazioni più forti tra le persone. Questo pensiero guida tutta la sua attività e dà senso al suo lungo cammino. Ancora oggi continua a scrivere, a partecipare e a condividere idee, dimostrando che non esiste un vero punto di arrivo per chi dedica la propria vita alla cultura e all’umanità. La sua storia è un esempio concreto di come una persona, con impegno, curiosità e sensibilità, possa costruire ponti tra mondi diversi e contribuire a creare una società più unita e consapevole.
***
