Friday, October 10, 2008

Lighthouse in the Night



The sky a black sphere,
the sea a black disk.


The lighthouse opens
its solar fan on the coast.


Spinning endlessly at night,
whom is it searching for


when the mortal heart
looks for me in my chest?


Look at the black rock
where it is nailed down.


A crow digs endlessly
but no longer bleeds.

Alfonsina Storni




Alfonsina Storni (1891-1938) was born in Sala Capriasca, Switzerland, of Italian-Swiss parents. She lived in Argentina from the age of four. After the death of her father, she held various jobs to help support her family, and worked as an actress, touring Argentina for a year. She received a teacher's diploma in 1910 and taught elementary school in San Juan, Argentina. During this year she published her first poems, and at the end of the school term, moved to Buenos Aires. In 1912 her illegitimate son was born. She supported herself and her son in Buenos Aires as a journalist and held teaching positions in state schools. She was awarded various prized and in 1923 was named professor of literature at the Normal School of Modern Languages.

In 1935 she underwent cancer surgery for a breast tumor. In 1938 the cancer recurred and on October 25 Alfonsina Storni drowned herself in the ocean at Mar del Plata.


Mimi

10 comments:

Sis. Julie said...

I just love the lighthouse pictures you find. The pictures themselves paint an awesome picture and speak a powerful message. Not to mention the poems and such that you put with them.

Mike Golch said...

great picture, and the poem is great as well,thank you for it.

Denise said...

My late father in law loved the Lighthouses..... I embroidered him several bath towels to decorate his little bath room....... He loved them and would not use them, just let them hang there to see........

Thanks for the beautiful poems!

Tracy said...

Beautiful post and picture.


Have a blessed weekend Mimi.

Saija said...

what a sad end to a talented poet ...

Mary Isabella and Kiley too! said...

Aewsome!!!..m.

Sweetie said...

So very special!
Sweetie

Maxine said...

Lovely lighthouse pictures, but the story about the author of the poem grabbed my attention. What a sad life and what a tragic ending to it!

SweetAnnee said...

lovely
welcome words
love to you
Deena

Unknown said...

That was a beautiful poem and the lighthouse picture was so realistic! Have a great weekend. Hugs~ Lisa