"Curandomi di non togliere e, soprattutto, di non aggiungere nulla, ho cercato di aderire minuziosamente a ognuna delle grandi parole dai molteplici significati che incarnano l'intenso dialogo da lei intrattenuto con l'Altro. La struttura essenziale delle strofe mi ha spesso consentito di conservare senza forzature un'alta quota del ritmo e della musicalità così tipici del suo incedere, il tono austero che rende autorevole la voce e che fa di ogni sua poesia un incontro non tanto mediato dalle parole, quanto, immediato, nelle parole." (Dalla nota di Silvia Bre.)
Emily Dickinson was an American poet who, despite the fact that less than a dozen of her nearly eighteen hundred poems were published during her lifetime, is widely considered one of the most original and influential poets of the 19th century.
Dickinson was born to a successful family with strong community ties, she lived a mostly introverted and reclusive life. After she studied at the Amherst Academy for seven years in her youth, she spent a short time at Mount Holyoke Female Seminary before returning to her family's house in Amherst. Thought of as an eccentric by the locals, she became known for her penchant for white clothing and her reluctance to greet guests or, later in life, even leave her room. Most of her friendships were therefore carried out by correspondence.
Although Dickinson was a prolific private poet, fewer than a dozen of her nearly eighteen hundred poems were published during her lifetime.The work that was published during her lifetime was usually altered significantly by the publishers to fit the conventional poetic rules of the time. Dickinson's poems are unique for the era in which she wrote; they contain short lines, typically lack titles, and often use slant rhyme as well as unconventional capitalization and punctuation.Many of her poems deal with themes of death and immortality, two recurring topics in letters to her friends.
Although most of her acquaintances were probably aware of Dickinson's writing, it was not until after her death in 1886—when Lavinia, Emily's younger sister, discovered her cache of poems—that the breadth of Dickinson's work became apparent. Her first collection of poetry was published in 1890 by personal acquaintances Thomas Wentworth Higginson and Mabel Loomis Todd, both of whom heavily edited the content.
A complete and mostly unaltered collection of her poetry became available for the first time in 1955 when The Poems of Emily Dickinson was published by scholar Thomas H. Johnson. Despite unfavorable reviews and skepticism of her literary prowess during the late 19th and early 20th century, critics now consider Dickinson to be a major American poet.
L'aspetto che più mi ha colpito della poesia della Dickinson è la sua sonorità frammentaria, la costruzione di versi usando brevi ed icastiche parole - ed indubbiamente la sua poesia è di una originalità e di una forza incredibili, ancora oggi oltre 150 anni dopo la sua creazione. Frammenti di frasi e brevi parole che comunicano con una vivezza e una chiarezza quanto si agitava nella mente della Dickinson: il confronto con la natura assente o indifferente, i pensieri dedicati alla morte, alla consumazione della vita, alla fragilità e provvisorietà dell'essere umano.
Peccato per la traduzione in italiano della Guidacci che spesso non riesce a rendere la forza diretta e icastica dei versi della Dickinson, eliminando la punteggiatura della versione originale che agisce quasi da metronomo nell'isolare le brevi parole e, in generale, allentando e annacquando un pò la forza dei versi originali (comunque quasi impossibili da riportare in lingua italiana, ne convengo...)
And I dropped down, and down - And hit a World, at every plunge, And finished knowing - then -
I can wade Grief – Whole Pools of it – I’m used to that – But the least push of Joy Breaks up my feet – And I tip – drunken – Let no Pebble – smile – ’Twas the New Liquor – That was all!
Power is only Pain – Stranded, thro’ Discipline, Till Weights – will hang – Give Balm – to Giants – And they’ll wilt, like Men – Give Himmaleh – They’ll carry – Him!
So guadare il dolore – laghi pieni – ci sono abituata – Ma il minimo guizzo di gioia mi spezza le gambe – e barcollo – ubriaca – Non sorridano – i ciottoli – era il liquore nuovo – tutto qua!
La forza è solo pena – imbrigliata, con la disciplina, fino a che i pesi – saranno sollevati – Date un balsamo – ai giganti – e languiranno, come uomini – Dategli l’Himalaya – e l’alzeranno!
Emily Dickinson is one of the most controversial figures in American literature as a whole and in American poetry in particular. It's not only her biography (voluntary anachorete, always wore white, published only few poems while being alive), but also unconventional point of view to life, death, religion, love; melody and philosophical complexity of poems that makes her so exceptional and inspiring. The only drawback of this book is that if you need it for university studies (as I did), chosen poems won't be sufficient. Perfect for the first quick acquaintance with the poet though.
I can wade Grief Whole Pools of it . I'm used to that - But the least push of Joy Breaks up my feet - And I tip - drunken Let no Pebble - smile "T was the New Liquor That was all!
Lo stile poetico della Dickinson, incalzante e asciutto, tocca vette altissime in alcuni componimenti. I suoi versi lasciano con una sensazione di vertigine e comprensione dell’ interiorità (propria e dell’autrice) profonde.