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100 reviews
July 15,2025
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The phases of time, the aspects of the sea and the lands of Liguria, and the fragile experiences of a life resigned and abandoned to the flow of its scattered minutes, which sometimes in things finds reflected the signs of its own desolate fatality. These are generally the themes of the lyrics collected here.

The passage beautifully描绘了时间的流逝、利古里亚的海洋与陆地的风貌,以及一种听天由命、任由生活中琐碎时光流逝的脆弱体验。这种体验在某些事物中有时会反映出自身凄凉命运的迹象。这些主题常常出现在这里所收集的抒情诗中。它们构成了一个独特的世界,让读者能够感受到作者对生活、自然和命运的深刻思考与感悟。通过这些诗歌,我们仿佛能够穿越时空,与作者一同领略利古里亚的美丽与哀愁,感受时间的无情与生命的短暂。
July 15,2025
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"An early Montale classic."

This simple description holds within it a world of significance. Montale, a renowned figure in a particular field, had created this work in the early stages of his career. It was a piece that would go on to leave a lasting impact.

The classic nature of this early work is evident in its timeless qualities. It perhaps possessed a unique charm, a style that was distinctively Montale's. Maybe it was filled with innovative ideas or a fresh perspective that set it apart from the rest.

As an early classic, it served as a foundation for Montale's future endeavors. It established his reputation and set the stage for the great works that were to come. It was a testament to his talent and creativity, and it continues to be celebrated and studied to this day.

Even after all these years, this early Montale classic still holds the power to captivate and inspire. It is a reminder of the artist's genius and the enduring value of his work.
July 15,2025
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Montale, what a introverted and tortured soul he must have been, as I understood from this book of his. It is very much appreciated, with often original inspirations for philosophical reflection.

His works seem to delve deep into the recesses of the human psyche, exploring the inner turmoil and conflicts that lie within. The language he uses is both beautiful and profound, painting vivid pictures in the reader's mind.

One can sense his struggle with life's uncertainties and his search for meaning and truth. Through his poetry and prose, he invites us to join him on this journey of self-discovery and to question the world around us. Overall, this book is a testament to Montale's genius and a must-read for anyone interested in philosophy and literature.

July 15,2025
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The cover of \\n  The Collected Poems of Eugenio Montale, 1925-1977\\n presents an impressionist image. It shows a bright, sun-dappled field with trees dotting the landscape.

This image is highly appropriate. His poetry, especially in his first collection, Cuttlefish Bones, is like a ray of early morning sunlight. This was during an era (1920 - 1927) that witnessed some of the densest, darkest, and most abstract poetry in Western literature. Montale makes it clear from the start that his poetry will reject the confounding and obscure classicism of his contemporaries.

While the poems often share common modernist themes such as fragmentation or "dissolution", an impending sense of death, and a constant wandering in search of existential meaning, these are expressed through concrete images of the ever-living natural world. Nature, with a capital "N", is rough, swirling, and unyielding. However, it is also the harbinger of a self-sustaining life force. There is regeneration even in dissolution. In fact, the renewal of the natural order depends on it.

These poems occupy a middle ground between the harsh fatalism of Naturalism and the inspiring sublime of Romanticism. Montale takes this stance: the natural world shapes our destiny and leads us towards death, but always with the promise that the vitality of its life force persists, even when we do not.

In "Arsenio", as the titular protagonist is overwhelmed by that ancient and crushing wave of existence, there still remains "some strangled life that emerged on your behalf, / and the wind whirls it away with the ashes of the stars." This reminds me of Carl Sagan standing on a beach, with fierce waves breaking in the distance, launching a dandelion into the wind at the beginning of Cosmos: "The surface of the Earth is the shore of the cosmic ocean … We are made of star stuff." Indeed, Montale concurs in his verse that we will end as ashes. But these ashes are the dust of the stars and the fertile loam of all future life. It is a refreshing, perhaps even radical, perspective in an era of literature characterized by darkness and disorder in both content and form.
July 15,2025
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The power
resembling these branches
yesterday emaciated and bare and today full
of tremors and of lymphs,
to feel
us even tomorrow among the scents and the winds
a reflux of dreams, a wild urging
of voices towards an outcome; and in the sun
that invests you, rivers,
to bloom again!

"Potere
simili a questi rami
ieri scarniti e nudi ed oggi pieni
di fremiti e di linfe,
sentire
noi pur domani tra i profumi e i venti
un riaffluir di sogni, un urger folle
di voci verso un esito; e nel sole
che v'investe, riviere,
rifiorire!"


This beautiful and evocative passage seems to describe a sense of transformation and renewal. The power is compared to branches that were once thin and naked but now are full of life and energy. It makes us feel that even tomorrow, among the pleasant scents and gentle winds, there will be a return of dreams and a passionate urging of voices towards a certain outcome. And in the sunlight that surrounds the rivers, there is a hope of blooming again. The words create a vivid image in our minds and stir our emotions, making us believe in the possibility of change and growth.

"Potere
simili a questi rami
ieri scarniti e nudi ed oggi pieni
di fremiti e di linfe,
sentire
noi pur domani tra i profumi e i venti
un riaffluir di sogni, un urger folle
di voci verso un esito; e nel sole
che v'investe, riviere,
rifiorire!"
July 15,2025
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July 15,2025
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A Lifesaver

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Overall, a lifesaver is a simple yet powerful device that plays a vital role in protecting the lives of those in and around water.
July 15,2025
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You were the best poet there, and you can't make me change my mind.

You had a unique charm and talent that set you apart from all the others. Your words flowed like a beautiful river, carrying emotions and ideas that touched the hearts of everyone who read them.

Your poetry was not just a collection of words, but a reflection of your soul. It was a window into your world, a world filled with passion, love, and inspiration.

I have read many poems in my life, but yours always stood out. They had a power and a beauty that I could not resist.

You may not be here anymore, but your poetry will live on forever. It will continue to inspire generations of people to come, and it will always be a reminder of the great poet that you were.
July 15,2025
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I have a great love for "ermetismo" due to its remarkable synthesis and the astonishing effect it produces. The sudden emergence of new meanings and scenarios that result from juxtaposing new and ancient words in an unusual manner is truly captivating. This was the first book by Montale that I delved into. It was quite a challenging read, as I could manage to read only a couple of pages per day. The content was so "dense" that it required careful thought and reflection with each line.

The complexity of the language and the depth of the ideas presented made it a slow but rewarding process. I found myself constantly pausing to ponder the significance of the words and the images they evoked.

Despite the difficulty, I was drawn in by the unique beauty and intellectual stimulation that "ermetismo" offered. It opened up a new world of literary exploration for me and made me appreciate the power of language to create something truly extraordinary.
July 15,2025
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Perhaps because it precisely reflects my idea of poetry, perhaps because the atmospheres of the sea and the sun have made me feel elsewhere.

This sense of being transported to another place is truly enchanting. The gentle lapping of the waves, the warm glow of the sun on my skin, all combine to create a magical experience.

It's as if I've stepped into a different world, one where the rules of reality don't apply.

In this moment, I am free to let my imagination run wild, to dream and create without limitations.

The beauty of the sea and the sun is a source of inspiration, fueling my creativity and filling me with a sense of wonder.

It makes me realize that there is so much more to life than what we see on the surface.

There are hidden depths and mysteries waiting to be discovered, and it is through experiences like this that we can catch a glimpse of them.

July 15,2025
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After reading yet another poet translated into English,

I'm beginning to have a profound sense that most poetry translations seem to lose an excessive amount in the process.

This particular edition, in fact, contained a preponderance of interpretation and analysis rather than the actual poetry itself.

I don't believe this added much value.

Undoubtedly, it does contain beautifully inspired imagery that catches the eye.

However, I still can't shake off the feeling that I've missed out on the full and true impact that the original poetry might have had.

It makes me wonder if it's possible to truly capture the essence and beauty of a poem in a different language.

Perhaps more effort needs to be put into finding a better way to translate poetry so that readers can experience the full range of emotions and meanings that the poet intended.

Until then, I'll continue to be a bit skeptical of poetry translations and hope for something more satisfying in the future.
July 15,2025
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I'm not sure how to write a review on a poetry book. I mean, poems either touch something inside you or they don't. It would be difficult to recommend a poetry book to someone. I would never give it to anyone because poetry touches deeper and more diverse chords than those of any novel story.

I really liked this book, and with the sea beside which I read it, it felt like I could actually feel the salt on my skin.

"Sepia Bones", as one might guess from the title, talks a lot about the sea and in general about the surrounding nature.

I find it peacefully wonderful.

My favorites were: "Lemons", "Sepia Bones" and "Pool".

This poetry collection seems to have a unique charm. The descriptions of the sea and nature are so vivid that it makes the reader feel as if they are right there. Each poem has its own essence and can evoke different emotions. Maybe not everyone will understand and appreciate it in the same way, but for those who have a sensitive heart and a love for nature and poetry, it could be a real treasure.

I think the author has done a great job in creating this beautiful world of words and emotions. It's a book that I will surely keep and read again in the future.

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