“Una Risata,” a poem by Sibilla Aleramo, captures a moment of emotional liberation through the simple yet powerful act of laughter. In a few lines, Aleramo distills the transformation of a repressed feeling into an expression of joy and hope, presenting laughter not only as a sound, but as a cathartic event that preludes a personal rebirth.
A Fulcrum of Hope
The poem opens with the prospect of future laughter, an explosion of joy that the poet expects to feel “bursting from my throat.” This anticipation is more than a wish; it is a certainty that is rooted in the belief of inevitable personal change. Aleramo uses laughter as a symbol of internal liberation, a sign of personal triumph over the challenges and oppressions of the world.
Symbolism of the Sun and the Sky
Aleramo’s choice to place this laughter on a “very sunny day” amplifies the sense of renewal and victory. The sun, with its light and heat, is often a symbol of life and energy, and in this context underlines a moment of personal rebirth. The poet not only laughs above the world, but she is lifted “toward the first evening star,” suggesting a movement toward hope and personal fulfillment that goes beyond earthly joy.
The Final Elevation
The poem’s climax, with “two arms lifting me panting towards the first evening star,” speaks of a transformation that goes beyond the personal to touch the cosmic. Aleramo portrays herself not only as freed from her own anguish, but also as elevated to a higher plane of existence, closer to the stars than to earthly sorrows. This final elevation is both physical and spiritual, an ascension that naturally follows the explosion of liberating laughter.
Conclusion
“A Laughter” is an intensely personal and universal exploration of the power of joy and laughter to liberate the soul. In just a few lines, Sibilla Aleramo touches on themes of liberation, transformation and spiritual elevation, making this poem a powerful manifesto on the human ability to overcome pain and embrace joy. The ability to condense profound experiences into short and meaningful verses makes this work a brilliant example of her poetic art.
A laugh, by Sibilla Aleramo
A laugh.
Maybe someday
I’ll feel it bursting into my throat.
Sunny day,
laughter over the world,
and then
two arms
that lift me up panting
towards the first evening star.
Poems from: bibliotecamo.it
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