Tuscany, Paris, NYC: the poetry of Linda Simone

Welcome our newest poet to the BH archive: Linda Simone (read more about her here). She lives in New York but travels to Europe... oh, aren't we jealous. She also has a particular sensibility for those subtle human relations, fixed in unexpected times and places. Enjoy.

Pieve Ligure, Italy
1. Mediterranean Lullaby:

We scoff at mosquitoes,
choose to sleep under sheets
cool as gelati
screenless windows thrown wide
to the rhythmic feet
of the sea.

Read "Mediterranean Lullaby" >>


Pieve Ligure, Italy
2. Villa Marina:

Apennine-swaddled,
we're parched by hot Ligurian sun–
thirst quenchable
only by wines –
celery-pale
dark as eggplant.

Read "Villa Marina" >>


Pieve Ligure, Italy
3. I Ragazzi:

At first glance, three men,
escapees from breakneck
schedules, wee-hour weekends.
Here in Liguria, they loll,
dis each other

Read "I Ragazzi" >>


NYC, United States
4. Passing Madame Tussaud, Times Square:

One silver hand scrapes pavement
on 42nd Street. The other, golden, stretches
toward skyscrapers.
She’s the Madame in my 'hood.
Je m'appelle Tussaud.

Read "Passing Madame Tussaud, Times Square" >>


Paris, France
5. Thanksgiving, Paris, 3 a.m.:

Under the imperfect blanket
of night, when I
can't sleep—hot, as if the soleil de Paris were beating down
on my head—you
turn to me, whisper

Read "Thanksgiving, Paris, 3 a.m." >>