Giosuè Carducci

Winter ennui

Was there, then, one day
The sun on this earth ?
Were there roses and violets,
Light, smile, ardor ?

Was there, then, one day
The sweet youth,
The glory and the beauty,
Faith, virtue, love ?

That happened perhaps in the times
of Homer and of Valmiki :
But those are ancient times,
The sun now is no longer here.

And this fog I wrap myself up with,
Fog of filthy winter
Is the ash of a world
That once was, perhaps.