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The Lyrical Streets and Languid Rhythms of Eduardo Machado's "Asperity Street Poems"

Russell Mitchell

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Asperity Street - Poems

by Eduardo Machado

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	2374 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Print length	:	98 pages
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Eduardo Machado's "Asperity Street Poems" is a collection of poems that explores the complexities of urban life, the struggles of immigrants, and the search for identity. The poems are characterized by their lyrical language, vivid imagery, and exploration of themes such as displacement, loss, and longing.

The title of the collection, "Asperity Street," is a reference to a street in the city of Worcester, Massachusetts, where Machado grew up. The street is a microcosm of the city itself, a place where people from all walks of life come together and where the challenges of urban life are on full display.

The poems in "Asperity Street Poems" capture the sights, sounds, and smells of city life. They evoke the cacophony of traffic, the pungent smells of garbage and exhaust, and the vibrant energy of the city's streets.

But Machado's poems also explore the darker side of city life. They portray the struggles of immigrants who are trying to make a new life for themselves in a foreign land. They depict the pain of displacement and loss, and the longing for a sense of belonging.

In the poem "Asperity Street," Machado writes:

On Asperity Street, the houses are old and tired, Their paint peeling, their windows boarded up. The people who live here are mostly poor, Immigrants from all over the world. They work long hours at low-paying jobs, And they dream of a better life for their children. But for now, they are stuck here, On Asperity Street, Where the streets are always dirty, And the air is always thick with smog.

Machado's poems are full of compassion for the people who live on Asperity Street. He portrays their struggles and their dreams with honesty and empathy.

But Machado's poems are also full of hope. They celebrate the resilience of the human spirit and the power of poetry to transform lives.

In the poem "The Poet's Corner," Machado writes:

In the poet's corner of the city, Where the words flow like wine, And the dreams are always free, I find solace from the world's pain. Here, I can be myself, And I can share my voice with others. Here, I can find hope.

Machado's "Asperity Street Poems" is a powerful and moving collection of poems that captures the complexities of urban life. The poems are lyrical, vivid, and full of compassion. They explore themes such as displacement, loss, longing, and hope. And they celebrate the resilience of the human spirit and the power of poetry to transform lives.