Poetry and anthropology of war: overcoming muteness (on oeuvre of Clemente Rebora)

Abstract

This article examines the experience of the Italian poet Clemente Rebora (1885-1957), who fought in the First World War. According to him, one of the most dramatic consequences of the war is the isolation and the lack of communication. Poetry becomes the space where, overcoming muteness, person open up to meet the other. In 1949 Theodor Adorno wrote: «Writing poetry after Auschwitz is barbaric». Against the disturbing chronicle of contemporary events, these words become relevant again and require a renewed understanding of nature and function of poetry. In order to answer this question it is necessary to look at the poetic practice in the context of anthropology of peace.