Giosuè Carducci
Giosuè Carducci, an Italian poet, was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1906. He was born in a small town near Pisa. Carducci began writing poetry when he was a child. He was enthusiastic about the ancients and demonstrated a strong revolutionary tendency.
Carducci led an active political life and his poetry inspired many Italians in the war for independence.
This is one example of his work:
The ancient lament
The tree to which you stretched out
your little hand,
the green pomegranate
with its beautiful vermilion flowers,in the silent lonely garden
all the gold is turning green again
and June is restoring it
with light and heat.You, flower of my
beaten and withered plant,
you, of my useless life
the last, unique flower,you are in the cold earth,
you are in the black earth;
the sun will not liven you again
nor love awaken you.–Giosuè Carducci (1835-1907)
Borrowed from Consolation
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San Martino
Drizzling, the fog
the steep hills climbs,
and the northwest wind torments
the howling, foaming sea:
but in the village streets
the seething vats send forth
the pungent smell of wine
and cheer the weary souls.
On fiery logs the roast
turns on its spit and crackles;
the hunter stands and whistles
and watches from his door
the flocks of birds that,
back upon reddish clouds,
like forlorn thoughts gyrate
at dusk, preparing to migrate.