Dialect Poetry of Southern Italy (Italian Poetry in Translation Book 2)

postulated on several occasions, according to

which the literary activity of Eugenio Cirese

constitutes the most coherent, complete and

consciously “experienced” poetic testimonial

in dialect ever put forth by the not very long

or substantial history of the province of

Molise, an autonomous region for little over

twenty years.

Eugenio Cirese’s work, beginning in 1910

─ Canti popolari e sonetti in dialetto

molisano [Folk Songs and Sonnets in

Molisan Dialect], followed by La Guerra.

Discurzi di cafuni [The War...Peasants’ Talk],

1910 ─ unfolds on a double register ─

mimetic/realistic and lyrical/subjective ─,

which finally, after a progressive and more

personal development (Suspire e risatelle)

[Sighs and Laughter], 1918 ; Rugiade [Dew],

1932, finds absolutely original modalities,