“Ricordiamoci dell’11 settembre” of Giuseppe Conte

MESSAGE:

The poem “Ricordiamoci dell’11 settembre” is an extract from Giuseppe Conte’s “Il fuoco che produce luce e fumo”. The poemi is a response of the Italian poet to the attack of nine-eleven: the attack of the World Trade Center (Twin Towers). Indeed on that day America was attacked by terrorists and 3000 people were killed. In the poem the speaking voice describes the atrocity of the event, giving details of the destruction including materials and human pieces. The objective of the poem is to underline how absurd the attach was, opening a possibility of hope. People should pray remembering all the victims of the attacks. The goal is to make possible that in future tragedies like 9/11 will not happen.

ANALYSIS:

Reading the title, the intelligent reader understands that the poem is about a tragedy happened the 11 of September, in addition the poet wants to make that event remembered. As a consequence the reader is curious to understand the aim of the poem. The verb “Ricordiamoci” is in the first person plural, indeed the speaking voice evocates all humanity.

The poem is made up of fifteen lines arranged into one stanza. There are five “endecasillabi” and then the rhyme scheme becomes vague representing the chaotic situation described. The rhyme scheme is AABCC.

On the phonological level there are many elements:

-         “carburante”, “carne”, “orrenda”. “Torri” : it is an alliteration

-         “odio”, “buio”, “apoteosi”: it is an assonance

-         “fuoco”, “fulmineo”: it is an alliteration

The words “cerebrale” and “mortale” are in rhyme. In addition the adjective “mortale” is referred to “fumo”, underlining suffering and death.

The expression “apoteosi della polvere” recalls to something supernatural, indie it is something men are not able to controll anymore.

The last four lines of the poem are linked to the semantic field of religion: God shoud not be a sufficient reason to justify violence and war.