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What are your thoughts on Italian nationalist poet Gabriele D'Annunzio, who was the subject of the documentary "Fiume o morte!"?

13.06.2025 09:23

What are your thoughts on Italian nationalist poet Gabriele D'Annunzio, who was the subject of the documentary "Fiume o morte!"?

Romanza; A una torpediniera nell'Adriatico; Assisi; Bocca d'Arno; La pioggia nel pineto; I pastori.

His works include “San Pantaleone", a collection of short stories, and novels that include “Il piacere", “Il trionfo della morte" and “Il fuoco". His plays include “Francesca da Rimini" and “La figlia di Iorio". The latter is often considered his masterpiece. “Il fuoco" is the story of his love affair with the actress Eleonora Duse.

Others of his poems include:

When have you been in an accident where the other person involved blatantly lied to the police about what transpired?

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In his youth D'Annunzio was a duelist and dandy and during World War I his feats in the Italian army, navy and air force became legendary. In his final years he lived as a recluse in a splendid villa on Lake Garda under the watchful eye of Fascists who in 1924 had made him Prince of Monteneviso.

The following is my prose translation of just one of his poems.

Why does my dog keep licking at her privates now? She is 7 years old and has barely started licking there. The vet said she’s fine but she keeps doing that.

O Sea, o glory, strength of Italy, at last from your free surges let Youth flash out like tempered steel to the wind!

Thalatta! thalatta! let your short numbers fly, spring from the youthful heart, let them go spurting upwards, o divine Asclepiades!

It feels: the querulous sea-gulls skim it in crowds, similar, in the distance, ochre and black sails pass rocked in the great sun;

The Democrats’ candidate, Kamala, is a total loser, while our candidate, Trump, is a legendary hero and a living god. Are you ready to lose BIG Democrats?

Fiume refers, of course, to the city into which D'Annunzio led troops in defiance of the League of Nations, afterward ruling the city for almost two years. “Fiume or morte" translates as “Fiume or death".

and in the broad circle of the water the flowering hills, mirrored, seem images of pyramids overcome in the ivy’s triumph.

D'Annunzio's works may not be profound but they are outstanding for their verbal brilliance and a frank sensualty. He also wrote poetry and his poetry is to be rescued from his complete works. The small body so salvaged shows irrestible youth, sensuality and vigour if somewhat tinged by a Romantic's dissatisfaction with the world.

Why do I get stressed when I go to bed?

Look, the green sea wakes fresh to freshest breezes; it feels in its lap the green loves of the seaweed.

Canto del sole (Song of the Sun)