Giuseppe Conte, Ricordiamoci dell’11 settembre – textual analysis

The poem is arranged into 15 lines, without following a precise rhyme scheme, except for the ending words of the last two lines and an anaphoric repetition of the title at lines 1 and 11, which recalls, even if with a little variation, the intention of remembering a turning point like that useful for understanding the East-West conflict’s development.

Thank to many consonances at lines 2-4 (Fuoco-Fulmineo, Carburante-Carne-Cerebrale) and alliterative heavy sounds at lines 3-5 (oRRenda-caRbuRante-caRne-mateRia-ceRebRale-gRigio-moRtale) the poet allows the reader to create a mental picture of the situation seen by the victim’s eyes. Furthermore the paratactic technique adopted, witnessed by the frequent use of punctuation, conveys the sudden crash’s terrible noise.

The last sequence, after line 11, where the reader find the polished recall of the 9/11 insisting on the key number, gives space to a religious invitation to pray for the victim, which highlights European’s tendency to ask God (here connoted as “murderer”) for mercy.

The overall effect is so a will of recreating the same sensations a witness could feel at that cruel massascre, with a clear religious recall (Inferi v.10, Dio vv.13-14), interpreted here as a justification of terrorists’ attack.

Mario Luzi, Desiderio di pace – textual analysis

The poem is arranged into a free-rhymed structure, except for the third to last and the last line (vv-10-12), where the composer addresses to the Twin Towers. Here the writer portrayed the image of a catastrophic event which demolished cultural barriers afflicting any kind of people, thank to the list at lines 4-5 (l’arabo, l’ebreo, il cristiano, l’indio) whose persons are associated by their death.

Moreover the reader can find the theme of religion as in the previous analysis: its semantic field is made up of words like “fasti” (v.7),”risorgete”(v.8), “preghiera” (v.10), “desiderio” (v.11), “pace” (v.12), which resend to  the deeper symbolism of the word “gigli” (v.10) in the Christian meaning.

Indeed it recalls purity, innocence and chastity, as an invite for them (the towers) to be rebuilt as an innocent building, lacking of economic and political meaning as terrorists might have interpreted.