Rest forever, tired heart.
The final illusion has perished.
The one we believed eternal is gone.
Just like that. Out the door desire
follows hope. Rest forever.
Enough throbbing.
Nothing deserves your attention
nor is the earth worth a sigh.
Bitterness and boredom is life,
nothing else ever, and the world is mud.
Quiet now. Despair for the last time.
Fate gives us dying as a gift.
Now turn from the hills,
the ugly hidden power
which rules for the common evil
and the infinite vanity of it all.
Giacomo Leopardi (1798–1837) was an Italian poet, philosopher, and essayist, widely regarded as one of the greatest voices in Italian literature and a precursor to modern European thought. Born in the small town of Recanati to a strict, aristocratic family, Leopardi’s world was confined, but his mind was boundless.
A prodigy, he taught himself classical languages and philosophy, immersing himself in a vast intellectual universe by his teens.
Despite a life marked by poor health, isolation, and unfulfilled longing, Leopardi created works that resonate deeply, blending melancholy with a fierce clarity about life’s complexities. His writing continues to inspire, a reminder of how brilliance can emerge even in the face of suffering.
