Giuseppe Jovine 1922-1998

Giuseppe Jovine was born in Castelmauro, in the province of Campobasso, in an ancient ducal palace that his ancestors had taken over from the dukes of Canzano.

Poet, narrator, journalist and essayist, he established himself as one of the most important writers and intellectuals of the Molise region and as one of the greatest contemporary Italian poets. His intense literary production    deserved the attention of authoritative writers and critics such as Argan and De Mauro. Central to his work is his interest in the social, economic and political problems of his relatively less developed region of birth, in a world dominated by mass communication and extremely rapid changes at all social levels. His political commitment is outstanding, both in his literary production and in his work as a journalist and lecturer.

Bloody, passionate, tumultuous, biting and ironic, always ready to defend the humble and desperate with an extraordinary charge of humanity mixed with poetry.  Eclectic scholar in Rome, he was always linked to his beloved land of origin and its familiar and ancient sounds, to the fundamental values, once sacred in the Contado del Molise.

In his poetry are told ancient or new fables that have as background the skies of Molise, “the golden ears of wheat, the tepid glades of sulla, the purple green mantles of the hills, the lobster-colored woods, the foxes’ escapes on the snow”, and that mark the solemn rhythms of time offering support for a rebirth of man, for a re-appropriation and awareness of his roots, his dignity and his deepest values.

“HERE I RETURN BITTERLY AFTER EVERY DEFEAT

NOT TO DESIST FROM THE DENSE EXISTENCE

WITH THE HEART OF EXILE WITHOUT DOUBT FURNITURE

THAT THE SONG OF THE MORNINGS AND EVERY DEFEAT

SHINE AS A VICTORY AGAIN.

HERE EVERY TREE HAS ITS WIND

EACH BRAMBLE ITS LAMENT

EACH CLEARING ITS SILENCE.

HERE MY STORY IS BORN.

HERE WHAT I THINK IS MINE