At first this began as a report from a journalist, but by the end of the program I knew I had to make this report as personal as it had become.
Maria Lisella, La Voce di New York, November 16, 2019.
At first, I told myself this would be a good exercise: revisiting Italy without my husband, the recently deceased poet Gil Fagiani. Like widows all over the world, I was floundering, finding my way without him, and visiting Italy without him presented a particular challenge. In the end, I returned home with a touch of pride for having made the trip and finding an aspect of my Calabrian self that can only strengthen who I am.
The group in Matera. Photos by Mark Hillringhouse