The Thin Man and Me (text in English)

“…Luciano Diaz writes poems of direct and earthy passion that ranges from deeply felt sentiment to comic self-mockery and lacerating political commentary. Diaz expresses rage at the process of assimilation…yet such indignation is balanced by self-mockery at his own susceptibility…a profound sense of exile is conveyed with intense yet lyrical poignance. This is a poet who does not hide behind false ornament and the virtues of his poems at their best proclaim why ‘the universe is wide unknown wonderful.’ “–David Lewis, The Ottawa Citizen
“The poetry of Luciano Diaz is the tale of his odyssey together with his other self – The Thin Man. It is rich in metaphors and images. I am reminded of Nietzsche’s images of heights and depths, flights and dancing, and cliffs and abysses. Nietzsche’s imagery are directed towards the search for a superman. Diaz uses his imagery in contrast (“…falling to the highest altitude.”) to express the destiny of the pure human soul dislocated and lost in the technological mess of a boundless, brutal cosmopolitan environment. The poetry of Luciano Diaz is strikingly beautiful, shaped by solid thinking, and as such capable of standing on its own. Like all good poetry, it leads us to hope that is higher than hope, born of intense despair. ‘We must have chaos within us,’ says Nietzsche, ‘if we are to give birth to a dancing star.’ “–Wali Alam Shaheen