MOSAIC

Hill’s poetry collection traverses both the physical and intangible landscapes of Italy.

Italy is a feast for the senses in every aspect, from the food to the language to the clothes to the way the cobblestones feel underfoot. The author understands this, and her poems aim to, as she puts it, convey a “sense of being utterly enchanted…stuffed inside a satchel of American cynicism.” The poems fall into six categories largely delineated by geography; most of the verses have an epistolary quality. The poems’ speakers traverse the country’s landmarks and attractions, such as the Keats-Shelley house, the Domitilla catacombs, and the northern city of Bolzano. Hill celebrates these places with visceral esteem, using tactile images to convey textured experiences: “Stone / walls still held the warmth of afternoon sun…sweet perfume / of mountain elderflower, fresh green mint” (“Hugo”). The outsider/tourist perspective intercuts with evocations of what life may look like for locals, including nuns, blacksmiths, and the elderly. Hill plays with form, weaving in old styles like the sonnet and sestina with her largely free-verse works (some are even in Italian, with translations). The clear reverence for Italy does not undermine humor; one section, “Learning Italian,” tackles the tribulations of learning a new tongue and includes a jab at the language learning app Duolingo and its bizarre sample phrases (“The penguin eats fruit in the zoo”). Hill captures many small moments beyond the typical travel brochure epiphanies, ruminating on the gravitas of simply walking down the street, the beauty of “small green lizards, / red butterflies and dragonflies,” and the viciousness of a winding road. The poems reflect the introspection and self-awareness of a transient presence while commemorating everything from sprawling mountains to a simple glass of limoncello. Though there are some awkward phrases here and there, the collection largely succeeds in creating an immersive and beguiling reading experience.

A sumptuous poetic romp through Italy.