Giacomo Leopardi was an Italian Romantic poet, who lived during the 19th Century. He is known for his contributions to poetry, having written brilliant verses comparable to many of the great Romantic poets. Much of his poetry is inspired by nature and landscapes, using rich imagery to describe beautiful, pastoral scenes.
"To Spring"
"To Spring," is a poem written by Leopardi, and is inspired by the passing of the seasons. In this poem, he introduces the season of spring in an unconventional way, seeing it as a reminder of winter, and the imminent death of nature. This is typical of Leopardi, who often had a melancholic and pessimistic tone when speaking about the beauty of nature.
"Memories"
This poem is again about the melancholic aspects of nature and is written from the perspective of a poet looking out his window at the stars. Although beautiful, the stars fill him with a sense of dread and bitterness. He is reminded of his younger and more hopeful years, painting the poem with an intense feeling of nostalgia.
"Saturday Night in the Village"
This poem is about the joy of anticipation, which is greater than that of the event itself. A village prepares for Sunday, a day of celebration. The happiness of Saturday is contrasted with the sadness of Sunday, and this dynamic translates to the relationship between adolesence and maturity. The poem ends with a philosophical consideration where Leopardi urges a young man to enjoy his youth, as adulthood is full of sadness and boredom.
"The Broom"
Perhaps Leopardi's most famous poem, The Broom describes the Vesuvian landscape, and poses the hypothetical problem of an apple which falls on an ant nest, which the insects have worked hard to build. There is no perceived evil in this event, rather it showcases Leopardi's belief that nature is indifferent to the suffering of all creatures, with humans being no exception.
"To himself"
This is a poem written by Leopardi and addressed to his own heart, already tired, denouncing the vanity of existence. He laments that the only thing which fate has in store for humans is death. In this poem we can see the devastating effects of the end of the last illusion, love, which is the most powerful of them all.
