The Paddock Review

Spaesato                                                                                                                                                     

 

I no longer know where to bang my head.

I exist ormai between languages,

with each foot in a different country

I am alone, as they say, spaesato.

 

My brother in arms in this trench warfare of life

is Ungaretti Giuseppe, poeta,

he who taught me the art of brevity

and what it means to be lost.

 

In Italy, I am American but different,

In America, I am Italian but quirky and new.

To belong this way and that

is to belong to no place,

the shame of my soul.

I am ever the stranger to myself,

it is my heart the most ruined country.

……

This poem is from the chapbook Rays of Light and Darkness by Raymond Turco (Finishing Line Press), and can be found at https://www.finishinglinepress.com/product/rays-of-light-and-darkness-by-raymond-turco/

RAYS OF LIGHT AND DARKNESS by Raymond Turco is a profound exploration of shifting moods, personal history, and collective memory. This evocative chapbook of poems navigates the contrasting landscapes of light and darkness, reflecting the ever-changing human experience amidst a background of blending world cultures. From the immigrant struggles depicted in the section “From the Old World to the New” to the whimsical yet poignant reflections in the section “Hearty Laughs and Heavy Sighs,” Turco masterfully captures the ebb and flow of our emotions. Many of the poems delve into themes of identity, family, and illness, portraying a spectrum of moods that oscillate between hope and despair. The material of the book traverses various settings, from the depths of the sea to the heights of the constellations. Through the vivid stories of characters like the haunting protagonist in “Cosimina,” Turco paints a rich tapestry of moments that highlight both the darkest shadows and the brightest rays of light in the human condition.