Exquisitely lyrical and tender… A striking collection.
Trovato’s latest is a collection of poems driven by his own experiences, enduring memories, and present-day concerns. Divided into four sections, these sharp poems combine melancholic pain, sensitivity, and resilience. With an eye for description and imagery—“Concentrating on/ the high canopy/ in a tropical forest/ at midday under/ a rare full sun/ with moisture/ from an/ overnight rain/ glinting like tiny/ captive stars/ caused my thoughts/ to align with/ the light show/ in the treetops/ while pain/ settled into/ a manageable/ throb and staying/ alive seemed not/ only desirable but/ also possible again/ even if all/ of it was simply/ wishful thinking”—Trovato’s writing unfolds lyrically. “WHEN RESIGNATION IS ADOPTED” examines the long-lasting impact of trauma. “TRIGGERING” talks about societal pressures as a person tries to heal. “A NEW RESOLVE” stresses how “belief/ in your own judgment/ remains the only proven/ way to survive” whereas “SIGNS” discusses the initial steps toward healing. Lingering pain and grief reverberate in these striking pages. Yet through the underlying darkness, there is a resilient spirit who stands firm in the face of despair, refusing to give up no matter the circumstances. Ultimately, “all life-/ changing events/ happen with or/ without our consent/ then leave scars/ and sometimes/ cause wounds” but addressing these “intelligently over/ time creating/ realities” and accepting these as key to destiny is the way forward, Trovato declares. Aimed at YA readers, this sensitive consideration of all that’s life is sure to leave a mark.
The Shape of Darkness The Shadow of Death: Poems
Jon Trovato
Pub date September 28, 2023
ISBN 979-8862368017
Price $12.00 (USD) Paperback
