"Umberto Saba's poetry, spare and flute-like, sits us among the animals Orpheus tamed. He leads us word by word, note by note, on a journey through his life: most of the way to Hell, most of the way back. Then he abandons us, but not without hope. We have experienced his joy and sorrow, his beautiful pity that purges us of terror. This is a collection of masterpieces, useful as bread and chocolate. . . . Thanks to the American poet Stephen Sartarelli we now have always convincing, often inspired versions of Saba's wonderful poems in America."—Stanley Moss
December 1998