Poet Lorenzo Pataro Dies at 27, Leaving a Legacy of 'Amuleti'

Lorenzo Pataro, a young Italian poet celebrated for his collection 'Amuleti' (2022, Ensemble), died suddenly on February 18, 2025, at age 27. The news spread rapidly on social media, prompting an outpouring of grief. Pataro's work, which explored themes of the sacred found in discarded objects, nature, and rural life, earned him a spot in the first selection of the 2023 Strega Poetry Prize and a finalist position at the 2024 Pontedilegno Prize. He collaborated with Il Foglio and other literary magazines, debuting with 'Bruciare la sete' (Controluna, 2017). Three days before his death, he emailed a collection of unpublished poems titled 'Parole sparse e ritrovate (2018-2024)' to poet Franco Arminio and a few friends. His funeral was held on February 21 in Laino Borgo, his hometown in the province of Cosenza. Pataro's poetry often engaged with death, memory, and the natural world, drawing comparisons to poets like Gabriele Galloni, who also died young. The cause of his death has not been disclosed.