A poignant, lyrical and powerful collection of poems focusing on strength, determination, and the importance of artistic expression and individuality (especially via poetry) in a world that has become so obsessed with formulae and fitting into moulds. However, this collection also simultaneously explores the less desirable aspects of humanity such as the harm we can cause, and the dystopian reality of a technologically dominated modern world responsible for dehumanisation and loss of individuality.

As with Stefania Lucchetti's other poetry collection "Coffee Stains On My Books", which I liked very much, this book celebrates bilingualism by providing an Italian and English version of each poem.

However, unlike "Coffee Stains On My Books" which focuses on several experiences that can break a person's spirit and leave them lacking in confidence such as grief and heartbreak, "Poetry is Cyberpunk" reads in a way that makes the narrator appear much more self-assured, resilient and self-aware. 

As with any poetry collection, it is unlikely that the reader is going to resonate with every single poem. However there were definitely several that stood out to me, such as "Six of Cups". This poem called attention to how paralysing anxiety can be — "I freeze inside the thought of what will be" which really spoke to me. However, to me it also emphasised how these worrisome thoughts often skew our perception of reality, and how channelling our inner strength can take the reins from the anxiety, preventing it from being the one in control — "Having the courage to touch the sky reveals that it is not rigid at all".

Other poems in this collection that I really liked were "404 - Page Not Found" and "My Body". Both of which beautifully portrayed the journey of developing self-love, self-compassion and strength.

Stefania Lucchetti also isn't afraid to delve into the imperfection of human nature, which I think is a very important quality to have, especially in an author who writes such raw and introspective poetry. For example, Lucchetti's poem "Negligence" states that "the harm we inflict is born in the absence of thought; in that subtle forgetting, which leaves imperceptible traces where our eyes do not look", which I believe highlights the capabilities we all possess to hurt others, and many people's tendency to become ignorant towards their own mistakes or shortcomings. 

Overall, this was a lovely, thought-provoking and celebratory collection of bilingual poetry.

Thank you to NetGalley, and Stefania Lucchetti for gifting this eBook in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. All opinions are my own.

‘Poetry is cyberpunk: words transformed into rebellion’
This is exactly what this collection of poems evokes: poetry marked by current events, new ways of communicating, the effectiveness and lack of understanding on a large scale of a culture marked by the presence of technology and its advancement. Feeling nostalgia for tradition, the esotericism of life and the connection with paganism within a life marked by continuous development.

‘But people only want words that sing of love,/ that make them dream of an eternity that doesn't exist’ because we create love ourselves, with words, with actions. Full of feeling, just like poems. That traditional method of talking about anything and everything, and conveying passion and despair, is much better than a machine ever could.

Thank you so much, NetGalley and Stefania Lucchetti, for entrusting me with this ARC read.

Bold. Honest. Unforgettable.

Stefania Lucchetti’s bilingual poetry collection celebrates individuality and creative freedom while confronting the shadows of modern life—conformity, technological dehumanization, and our own imperfections. Raw and lyrical, these poems challenge, inspire, and linger long after the last line.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

I enjoyed this collection much more than the previous one I read by the same author, and I think the topics in this collection just worked better for me, as the way the poems are crafted, the general layout etc are all very similar. Lucchetti is definitely a very skilled writer, touching upon various topics, and the fact that she writes all her poems bilingually just makes this extra cool, in my opinion, even though I (sadly) cannot read the Italian versions. These poems leave you with a feeling of "oh...", nudging something within you that you cannot really articulate but that you feel happened, and I'd definitely recommend people to check out this collection specifically.

Although I personally couldn't relate to this collection, I think the author has a great voice! Translated poetry especially is tricky, and I believe that if I could read it in its original language I would be able to feel the emotions of the prose more. In English, it felt lacking of that emotion. It could have been more, but unfortunately it wasn't for me.