The poem describes the speaker's emotional state, torn between love and sorrow. The opening lines "Amor piangeva, ed io con lui talvolta" ("Love was weeping, and I with him sometimes") set the tone for a lamentation of lost love. The speaker recounts how they used to be together with their beloved, sharing tears and sorrow. The poem explores the pain of separation and the longing for a distant loved one.
By Francesco Petrarca · First published 1343 · Genre: Lyric Poetry, Philosophical Poetry, Romantic Poetry