I recently read ‘Sleep’ and found myself in awe of the intricacy of Rosselli’s writing. As beautiful and delicate as poetry can be Rosselli highlights the exact opposite. Her words were laced with brutality and honesty. An emphasis on sound rather than language created an intricate flow of syllables. Inventing new words and phrases within her poetry not just for rhymes but for emotion. Her Italian is tastefully present in her diction as is her Shakespearean influence. Like all great art her unconventional linguistic style comes from a place of despair.
In addition to finding an incredible compilation of poetry I also found an intriguing part of history. Amelia’s father, Carlo Rosselli was once considered “Italy’s most influential anti-Fascist," and “the country’s gravest threat to Mussolini.” Carlo eventually fled Italy and found himself in Paris with his wife Marion Cave, an English political activist. In 1930 Amelia was born, 7 years later Carlo would be assassinated by the regime.
Amelia, amidst Mussolini’s regime, was born in exile. Rootless she moved from Paris to England to Switzerland to New York then to eventually returned to Italy. This nomadic lifestyle led to Amelia being trilingual in English, French, and Italian. This plays into her unique style of writing, focused less on language and more so on sound. Her poetry is not only a reflection of historical traumas but personal despair. A combination of the political tyranny she was born under and her personal battles with her mental health created her ferocious voice.
Aside from historical context ‘Sleep’ is a tremendous piece of literature. It’s easy to see why she is recognized within the literary canon. Her innovation pushes the boundaries of poetic norms. Her intensity seeps through the pages and creates a gut-wrenching read. You’ll find yourself feeling her deep desires and disparities when reading her poetry. Prior to this book I had only heard of Amelia via her translations of Sylvia Plath but I’m glad to have learned her story. With that being said here is a poem from sleep:
(an interesting article on Carlo Rosselli ♡)
gummygunk
germansingergirl
origamiaround
prguitarman
dededos
janainaart
