Ne Mai Pietosa Madre Al Caro Figlio
The poem is a lamentation of the poet's mother who has lost her son. The speaker describes the mother's grief and sorrow, comparing it to that of a bereaved animal. The poem explores the theme of maternal love and the pain of losing a child.
By Francesco Petrarca · First published 1348 · Genre: Lyric Poetry, Religious Poetry, Elegy · 357 words
First lines
HER COUNSEL ALONE AFFORDS HIM RELIEF.
Ne'er did fond mother to her darling son, / Or zealous spouse to her beloved mate, / Sage counsel give, in perilous estate, / With such kind caution, in such tender tone, / As gives that fair one, who, oft looking down / On my hard exile from her heavenly seat, / With wonted kindness bends upon my fate / Her brow, as friend or parent would have done: / Now chaste affection prompts her speech, now fear, / Instructive speech, that points what several ways / To seek or shun, while journeying here below; / Then all the ills of life she counts, and prays / My soul ere long may quit this terrene sphere: / And by her words alone I'm soothed and freed from woe.
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Ne Mai Pietosa Madre Al Caro Figlio is listed on Textopian as a poem by Francesco Petrarca, dated 1348 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Francesco Petrarca
- Date: 1348 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Lyric Poetry, Religious Poetry, Elegy, Romantic Poetry, Philosophical Poetry
- Length: 357 words
- Structure: 1 section, 5 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Difficult (10th-12th Grade)
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- Work identity for Ne Mai Pietosa Madre Al Caro Figlio by Francesco Petrarca
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Similar titles
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Genres
- Lyric Poetry — The work is characterized by its emotional expression and personal reflection, typical of lyric poetry.
- Religious Poetry — Themes of divine guidance and spiritual longing are prevalent, indicating a strong religious undertone.
- Elegy — The tone reflects mourning and contemplation of loss, aligning with the characteristics of elegiac poetry.
- Romantic Poetry — The themes of love and affection, particularly maternal love, resonate with the romantic genre.
Tags
Renaissance Literature · Italian Poetry · Sonnet Collection · 14th Century Writing · Classical Influence · Love Poems · Elegy · Lamentation · Grief · Mourning · Loss · Sorrow
More by Francesco Petrarca
- Fifteen sonnets of Petrarch (1350)
- Voi, Ch' Ascoltate in Rime Sparse Il Suono (1343)
- Per Far Una Leggiadra Sua Vendetta (1343)
- Era 'L Giorno Ch' Al Sol Si Scoloraro (1343)
- Quel Ch' Infinita Providenza Ed Arte (1343)
- Quand' Io Movo I Sospiri a Chiamar Voi (1344)
- Si Traviato E 'L Folle Mio Desio (1343)
- La Gola E 'L Sonno E L' Oziose Piume (1344)
- All works by Francesco Petrarca