Radomir Vojtech Luza ~ Featured Poet at Second Sunday Poetry Series ~ April 2017

Radomir Luza
Born in Vienna, Austria in 1963, Radomir Vojtech Luza owes his love of art and politics to his Czech parents Radomir Sr. and Libuse Podhraska.

The former fought in the Czech Resistance during WWII. Radomir's grandfather, Czech Army General Vojtech Luza, was the leader of the Underground until the Nazis ambushed and murdered him in 1944.

At 15, Podhraska was the youngest actress ever accepted into the Czech National Dramatic Conservatory where she loved studying and acting in the works of William Shakespeare and the Greeks before Adolph Hitler closed the doors in 1943.

In 1948, Luza's parents escaped Communism in their beloved Czechoslovakia with one suitcase, leaving behind tightly knit families and promising careers.

After living in Paris, France which they both deeply disliked, they moved to New York City where Radomir Sr. received a Ph.D in Eastern European History from New York University.

Upon getting a teaching job at Tulane University in New Orleans, he rose to full professorship and tenure in a matter of a few years.

The Senior Luza penned seven books, the last, THE HITLER KISS, the most popular, about his adventures in the Czech Resistance.

Upon his death at the age of 87 in 2009, the University of New Orleans named their research center/institute after him.

The younger Luza, a SAG/AFTRA/AEA union actor, is the Poet Laureate of North Hollywood, CA, a Pushcart Prize Nominee and the author of 30 books, including the 404-page EROS OF ANGELS, NEW YORK NADIR, WINDY CITY SONGS and TALE OF TWO TOWNS.

His poetry has appeared in over 80 literary journals, anthologies, websites, newspapers, magazines, blogs and other media such as Sahara, Pegasus, Nerve Cowboy, Askew, Spare Change, KYSO Flash, Altadena Poetry Review, San Gabriel Poetry Review, Lummox, Bicycle Review, Spectrum and Writers of the Desert Sage. Luza publishes VOICES IN THE LIBRARY Literary Magazine through Red Doubloon Publishing, an arm of Radman Productions, his production company which also produces poetry readings, plays, staged readings and short films.

In 2014, the award-winning actor acted in, wrote, directed and produced the short film, THE BLOOD WILL MURDER ROSES, which received festival exhibition.

Radomir has hosted, curated and organized over a dozen poetry readings across the country including UNBUCKLED: No Ho POETRY in Los Angeles with Mary Anneeta Mann and Alliteration Alley in Jersey City, NJ (New York City) with Christine Goodman.

In 2006, Luza was a Writer's Digest Honorable Mention.

He has Featured his Poetry over 100 times across the country.

The veteran comedian has also acted in over 20 films, television shows and commercials and 15 plays.

Radomir has performed stand-up comedy in many of the major clubs across the country in cities such as New York City and Los Angeles and towns in-between including Chicago, Philadelphia, St. Louis, Atlanta, New Orleans, Orlando, Pensacola, Biloxi and Baton Rouge.

Luza has also written over 200 freelance articles for over 25 newspapers, magazines and websites.

Radomir was on the board of the Mid-Town North Hollywood Neighborhood Council ( Los Angeles) for seven years and President of the North Hollywood West Neighborhood Council for four years.

Prior to that, Luza was an active and award-winning member of the Middletown Township Democratic Party in Bucks County, PA outside of Philadelphia and a candidate for Auditor in 1997.

Radomir is thrilled, honored and proud to call Los Angeles home.

She Like A Balloon

Eyes floating
Mouth unfurling

Lips candy apple red
Nose soft as tissue

Perfect as a pond
Moist as moss

Flying like day
Landing like night

Never giving way
To the absolute sight

The climb
Outweighing the Fall

The grime beneath
The nails
Nothing at all

Staring down
While rising up

The end coming
Somewhere near the clouds

So as to ensure
A faster trip
To the stars