Journeys and interrupted journeys are a well established theme in literature. Gustave Von Aschenback's fateful journey back to Venice and his death began with lost luggage. So also with Salvatore Ala's new collection of poems -- his third. Lost luggage and the efforts to find the things of this world retrieved and redeemed are central to Ala's poems. In his new book he presents a unique group of poems about the world of soccer: "The Goalkeeper," "Pelé," The Soccer Ball," and others, show Ala's openness and refusal to accept the sterility of modern trends. Lost Luggage has many examples of his unique sense of style, his particular blend of candidness and depth. A rare commodity today.
