The Nakedness of New by Althea Romeo-Mark is clearly and intentionally a journey, a personal voyage through the author’s lives in various unique and complicated parts of the world. But, more deeply, this collection of poetry and personal essays, is an imagistic trip into the inquisitive reaches of the soul, always monitoring and questioning the root causes of our very existence.
Romeo-Marks’ writings listen to her heart murmurs that always color the meanderings of her observations with the importance of understanding consequences and realities. This book is an aromatic and colorful collection, starting with the salt and pepper restlessness of “New World Bouillon”. The author continues her search through the unknown, for both its obvious and hidden meanings, while consistently anchoring herself in her own roots,
“no corner shops where food
can take me on a journey home”.
She takes us through many steps and questions along the way, marveling at the “Liberian Devil Comes to Town at Christmas”; the different faces that smile, befriend and beguile along the course; and finally ruminating about the end of it all, in “The Final Crossing”.
While The Nakedness of New is sometimes a whimsical embrace of her personal time and space, there is constantly a deep, underlying seriousness to it all. It is often not an easy read, full of the tribulations and transgressions of refuge, conquest, and enslavement that we have woven around ourselves as human beings, crossing boundaries of personal and cultural spaces, pride and morality. But in the end, this is a marvelous and inspirational romp through the author’s grasp of meaningful words to understand difficult times and situations. This is important, no matter the time or place, as we all see “things” so differently and the more we share these visions with each other, the better we understand the whole trip!!!
The Nakedness of New is an important read and Althea Romeo-Mark is a very gifted writer.
Jack Kolkmeyer
Writer and Performing Artist,
Delray Beach, Florida
July 2018
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