Poems

by Antonia Pozzi, Peter Robinson (Translator)

After her tragical death in December 1938 at the early age of twenty-six, Antonia Pozzi's poems - which she had been secretly writing for years - were brought to light and became the object of great critical attention, going through several editions in Italy and being translated into all the major European languages. Since then, her reputation has risen steadily, and she is now considered one of the greatest Italian poets of the twentieth century. This new version by prize-winning poet and translator Peter Robinson perfectly renders the delicate undertones and that sense of longing which is such a distinctive feature of Pozzi's poetry.

Genres: Poetry

144 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2011

Reviews

[Christopher Louderback · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Flames in the evening of my name,
I feel them burn on the shore
of a dark sea--"
-Antonia Pozzi

[Justin Labelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

'Who speaks to me won't know
I've lived another life-
as one who tells
a fairy tale
or a holy parable.'

'And to us
an instant perhaps comes back, when
something was lost
at a crossroads:
which we don't know.
So that empty
now-detached
without love our hands hang down'

'Absorbed in his own fire
everyone human
surrenders to a single life.'

Pozzi's poetry, even in translation, communicates a time and place near mystical in nature.
At their best, the poems bring about an intense sense of lucidly channeled inner visual materializations.
As a physical sensation, these poems feels as though they are whispered into your ear amidst passionate bouts of 'evening disquiet'.

Personal favourites include:
Death of a season
Love of Distance
Event of Waters
The Closing Door
Song of My Nakedness
The Dream's Eyes
The Dreamed Life
For Emilio Comici
Pan
A Fate

[Jorge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes I find a poet by accident. It was the case with Antonia Pozzi. I am glad that the Italian and English version were side by side. Even, with my limited Italian, I was glad to be able to see the beauty in the original and then compare in the English translation. Pozzi has become a favorite!

[Julia · Rating 3 out of 5]

as quite a poetry amateur i found this collection tough to read through and comprehend entirely, but what i did comprehended i LOVED. i will return to this collection and meditate on the poems more, but in the meantime i can say this is a fascinating piece of work.

[muds · Rating 5 out of 5]

pozzi has the most incredible way with imagery, reading any of her poems is like a guided meditation. certainly a new favourite poet of mine

[Stella Paliobei-Keki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful writing Dickinson esque. Can defo tell that the translation doesn't quite get across the idea

[milagros aldasoro · Rating 4 out of 5]

no la conocía y la encontré en una librería de usados, de casualidad..
me gusto mucho, voy a investigar sobre ella 🫶🏻

[Bea]

jag väntar med att betygsätta tills någon översätter henne

[emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

reread