Tuesday Poem - Christmas by Giuseppe Ungaretti

Christmas

I have no wish

to plunge

into a web

of streets

On my shoulders

I feel

such weariness

Leave me like this

like a

thing

laid down

in a

corner

and forgotten

Here

one feels

nothing

but the good warmth

I stay

with the four

caprioles

of smoke

from the stove

         Naples, December 26^th 1916

The Italian poet Giuseppe Ungaretti (1880 – 1970) lived through interesting times

and introduced the idea of Ermetismo (Hermeticism) which was influenced by

Symbolism and Futurism. Perhaps he is most known for this very short poem -

Mattina

M’illumino
d’immenso

(I illuminate (myself)
with immensity)

I always feel the translation of this poem to be more like – I am illuminated

with immensity.

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