Immensity & Infinity
When the Italian poet Giuseppe Ungaretti wrote the famous verse “m’illumino d’immenso”, (I light up with immensity) he intended to express an experience of inner enlightenment and profound connection with the universe. This verse is part of the poem entitled “Mattina” (meaning “morning”), first published in 1919 in the collection “The Buried Port”.
“M’illumino d’immenso” can be interpreted as an expression of wonder and amazement in the face of the grandeur of the universe and its beauty. The poet opens up to the vastness of existence and feels illuminated by it, as if he were pervaded by an inner light that comes from the infinite. The verse also suggests a sort of fusion between the individual and the universe, an experience of unity and overcoming personal boundaries.
Ungaretti’s poetry is often characterized by an essential language and an intense and suggestive use of images, with the aim of capturing the essence of human experience. In this verse in particular, Ungaretti manages to condense a sense of wonder and transcendence into a simple and powerful expression.
The concept of immensity can be interpreted in relation to the external and internal world in different ways, depending on the context and personal interpretation. I try to explain to myself how these two aspects can be understood:
Immensity of the external world…
