The debut collection of poems compiled in Alina Pleskova’s Toska takes readers on an unapologetic journey through her passionate critiques and appreciation of modern society. The book urges readers to gaze at themes through immigrant and queer lenses and relate them to their own personal experiences. However, one does not need to fit into these two boxes to appreciate the meaning of the poems. A few of the powerful topics covered are the urge to belong, the relentless drive of capitalism, and the longing for connection in a digital age. Warm, inviting, and often unashamed, Toska evokes a feeling similar to venting to a close friend about personal issues. The collection is a testament to the power of intimacy, and telling the ugly truth.
Curiosity piques instantly when reading the title of this book since Toska is a Russian word meaning “melancholy,” or “sadness with no specific cause.” This negative emotion directly contrasts with the bright, vibrant cover art, depicting a wolf draped in rainbow fabric. Pleskova’s European heritage is present throughout almost every poem in the book, but especially in a gem titled, “Now That I Am In Reykjavik & Can Think.” This poem illustrates the beauty of Reykjavik, Iceland in gorgeous detail by incorporating the imagery of mythical creatures and sunsets. Her grappling with living as an American while still wanting to feel connected with her culture is present in the poem entitled, “Alight,” which details her small daily attempts to break away from American cultural norms:
I carry an umbrella but never use it, head wrapped like a babushka instead.
Another way in my ever-expanding
list of ways to feel less American.
Which is to say, elegant in the face of
my boorishness.
Pleskova examines the constant drive to pursue wealth and touches on the confusion that can be felt from others achieving wealth in the book’s opening poem, “Take Care”:
No one I know has portfolios,
but we hear of rising stocks
generating more wealth
for no one we know.
Pleskova tackles a similar theme, the pressure to conform, in Toska, the poem the collection is named after. She reflects on comparing her progress in life against her mother’s and the stark contrast in their lives when her mother was the same age:
I don’t need to know it. At my age,
she had two kids & three jobs.
At my age, I have a busted phone
full of contacts filed under That was
a weird period in my life, actually
Like the collection as a whole, the poem explores her insecurities by showing her striving to get approval while also attempting to maintain her independence. It conveys a certain ambivalence and asserts that even though she is discussing a somber topic, she is not saddened by this, and is plainly telling the facts.
My favorite poem of the collection is the heartfelt, “Our People Don’t Believe in Tears.” This poem is a fervent war cry for the unaccepted LGBTQ community in Russia. The poem’s structure fits this war cry by being written in one conglomerate paragraph, as if the poem was meant to be spoken in one breath. In every syllable, the emotion is palpable and evokes equal feelings of anger and compassion for those unable to live as their true selves. In the poem, Pleskova references Yelena Grigoryeva, an LGTBQ rights activist murdered in St. Petersburg, Russia in July 2019. This reference drives home the tragedy of the epidemic of violence against queer individuals and the closing line of the poem is a chilling call to action:
Where were you when you first realized how many more of us exist?
I was here, waiting dimly for my undoing.
The idea of waiting to lose your life simply because of your identity is heartbreaking, and this poem urges everyone to wake up and recognize that these injustices need to end. Toska fights for a different, more equitable reality for everyone, and asserts that the first step to change is to recognize that one needs to be made.
Learn more about the author and purchase her book here.
Toska: Poems
Alina Pleskova
Deep Vellum Publishing
June 13, 2023
120 pp.
Jordan Anderson is a 3rd-year student at Drexel majoring in Communications with a concentration in Journalism. In her free time, she enjoys trying new restaurants and spending time with her friends. After graduation, she plans to pursue broadcast journalism and become a news reporter.