Salvatore Quazimodo’s poem captures the transition from night to day, depicting a landscape bathed in morning light. The piece notes the passing of night, with the moon dissolving into the brightness as it descends through the canals. The speaker describes their current existence in this “sweet land,” observing that the fields are blooming, mirroring the appearance of the southern valleys during spring.
The poem conveys a sense of departure and introspection. The speaker mentions leaving friends and finding refuge for their heart among the old, enduring walls that serve as reminders of distance. The imagery focuses on the separation between the self and the celestial body.
As the day arrives and circles over the stones, the contrast between the celestial and the terrestrial becomes pronounced. The poem frames the passage of time through these natural cycles. The poet contemplates the vast distance, specifically referencing the separation between the self and the moon.
This excerpt is presented alongside another work by Quazimodo, “The Poet and the Politician,” which was read on December 11, 1959, and is noted for its connection to a Nobel laureate. The verses invite reflection on permanence and change, using the rising day and the fading moon as central metaphors for the speaker’s emotional state. The poem ultimately situates the experience of living in the present moment, marked by the arrival of the day.
Topics: #now #day #moon
