American poet Ella Wheeler Wilcox was born on 5 November 1850
Her best-known work was “Solitude”, famous for its opening lines:
Laugh, and the world laughs with you;
Weep, and you weep alone.
These lines have often been ridiculed but even her detractors have to admit that ‘Solitude’ remains successful as a piece of poetry about loneliness.
Anthony Burgess, author of the dystopian satire A Clockwork Orange, rewrote these lines as “Laugh and the world laughs with you, snore and you sleep alone.”
This quotation comes from Inside Mr Enderby the first volume of the Enderby series, a quartet of comic novels about a ‘professional’ poet full of old bar wisdom.
Ella Wheeler Wilcox was inspired to write this poem in 1833 , while she was going to attend the Governor’s inaugural ball in Madison, Wisconsin. On the train, she noticed a young woman dressed in black who was crying. She sat next to her and sought to comfort her for the rest of the journey.
When the poet recalled the sorrowful widow, short after her arrival, she wrote the opening lines of “Solitude”:
Laugh, and the world laughs with you;
Weep, and you weep alone;
For the sad old earth must borrow its mirth,
But has trouble enough of its own.
Sing, and the hills will answer;
Sigh, it is lost on the air;
The echoes bound to a joyful sound,
But shrink from voicing care.
Rejoice, and men will seek you;
Grieve, and they turn and go;
They want full measure of all your pleasure,
But they do not need your woe.
Be glad, and your friends are many;
Be sad, and you lose them all,—
There are none to decline your nectared wine,
But alone you must drink life’s gall.
Feast, and your halls are crowded;
Fast, and the world goes by.
Succeed and give, and it helps you live,
But no man can help you die.
There is room in the halls of pleasure
For a large and lordly train,
But one by one we must all file on
Through the narrow aisles of pain.
L’opera più nota della poetessa americana Ella Wheeler Wilcox, nata il 5 novembre 1850, è “Solitudine”, famosa per i suoi versi di apertura:
“Ridi ed il mondo riderà con te;
piangi, e piangerai da solo.”
Questi versi sono stati spesso messi in ridicolo, ma anche i suoi detrattori devono ammettere che “Solitudine” rimane una bella poesia sull’argomento.
Anche Anthony Burgess, autore della satira distopica “Arancia meccanica”, riscrisse i due famosi versi trasformandoli in “Ridi e il mondo riderà con te, russa e dormirai da solo”.
Questa citazione proviene da “Inside Mr Enderby” il primo volume della serie Enderby, quattro romanzi comici il cui protagonista, Enderby, è un poeta “professionista” pieno di saggezza da bar.
Ella Wheeler Wilcox fu ispirata a scrivere questa poesia nel 1833, mentre stava per partecipare al ballo inaugurale del Governatore a Madison, Wisconsin. Durante il viaggio in treno, notò una giovane donna vestita di nero che stava piangendo. Si sedette accanto a lei e cercò di confortarla per il resto del viaggio.
Ricordando la vedova addolorata, al suo arrivo, la poetessa scrisse l’inizio di “Solitudine”:
Ridi e il mondo riderà con te,
piangi, e piangerai da solo.
Perché il vecchio mondo prende a prestito la gioia
ma ha già abbastanza problemi per conto suo.
Canta, e le colline risponderanno,
singhiozza, e i gemiti nell’aria si sperderanno
L’eco ama i suoni contenti,
ma non dà voce ai lamenti.
Rallegrati e gli uomini ti cercheranno,
rattristati, e la schiena ti volteranno.
Poiché gradiscono la pienezza del tuo piacere,
ma non sanno che farsene del tuo dolore.
Sii felice, e molti amici avrai;
sii triste, e tutti li perderai.
Se nessuno ricusa il tuo vino delizioso,
resterai da solo a bere il fiele della vita.
Fa’ festa, e la tua casa si riempirà,
digiuna, e la gente ti disdegnerà.
L’esser famoso e generoso ti aiuterà a vivere,
ma nessuno potrà aiutarti a morire.
C’è spazio nelle sale del piacere
per un lungo corteo di persone.
Ma da soli ci dobbiamo incolonnare
se del dolore gli stretti corridoi son da attraversare.
(trad: L.Z.)
she was absolutely right! Laugh and world laughs with you, weep and you weep alone….
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These are words that apply perfectly in all times and in all places 🙏🌺🙏
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Yes they are. Thank you for sharing. 💕
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🙏😘🙏
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Reblogged this on attis.
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Thank you so much 🙏❣️🙏❣️🙏
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Reblogged this on Il mio viaggio.
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Ti ringrazio di cuore per avermi dimostrato un tale apprezzamento 🙏💗🙏
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Molto bella, non la conoscevo, buon pomeriggio 🙂
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Sono davvero felice di sapere che è piaciuta anche a te. Sono parole adatte in ogni epoca e in ogni luogo
Buon pomeriggio, Silvia cara 😘
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Reblogged this on OPENED HERE >> https:/BOOKS.ESLARN-NET.DE.
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Thanks for reblogging. 🙏 😊 🙏 😊 🙏 😊 🙏
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Bellissima questa poesia e aggiungerei , più che mai veritiera!!! Le cose stanno proprio così come da lei descritto. Grazie per averla condivisa e tradotta per noi. Buon pomeriggio ❤🥀😘
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Hai ragione, Giusy cara… le abitudini e i calcoli umani non variano nei tempi😘
Buon pomeriggio a te
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I had certainly heard the quote but had never read the poem until now. It’s a rare friend who shows up or remembers in times of pain. Illness, or death. Thanks for sharing it with us.
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FRIENDS
Fight for you
Respect you
Include you
Encourage you
Need you
Deserve you
Stand by you
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Perfect summation. 👍👍👍
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🙏😘🙏
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Some emotions are timeless.
Thank you for expanding on the little that many thought they knew!
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Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
I am so grateful for your kind and appreciative words🙏🌺🙏
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So awesome story 👌🌷🙏I like to read your great people’s stories 😍thank you for sharing 👏🌷
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I appreciate your words that are so sweet. 🌺🌺🌺 Thank you for saying that and for your kind support.💐💐💐
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🌷🙏👌♥️😊
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Beautiful poem. Thanks, Luisa. I’m on a tantric awakening path where the people spend a lot of time moaning and groaning. I’ve grown tired of it. There is sadness and pain that we can’t avoid, but I’ve learned that in many instances, we make our own joy or sorrow.
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In many cases it is we who create our joy or our pain. This is a wonderful reflection and I thank you for sharing it here 🙏🙏🙏
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lovely poem
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I appreciate your saying so and I am happy that you liked it!
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Interessant, thank you, Luisa !
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Merci pour ton passage, jean-Louis et un doux et souriant après-midi à toi.🌺🌺🌺
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Quante tristi verità ha saputo mettere insieme la brava e sensibile Ella Wheeler Wilcox , purtroppo è tutto vero! Finchè c’è da divertirsi gli amici non mancano, ma quando c’è da condividere un dolore spariscono tutti. Della resie : provare per credere!!!! Ciao Luisa cara! 🙂 ❤
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E’ molto triste, davvero, Per fortuna alcuni dicono di aver trovato amici su cui poter fare serio affidamento, e questo mi regala un po’ di ottimismo sulle sorti dell’umanità
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Splendida poesia intrisa di amara verità…Buon pomeriggio carissima Luisa 🌹😘
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Grazie e buon pomeriggio a te 🌺💗🌺
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ma che bella… posso portarla dalle Muse? 🙂
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Ma certo: sai che lo considero un vero onore…
Grazie e buona serata 💐
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💕 grazie a te! 😀 Buon tutto 🙂
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💗❣️💗
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😘
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Questi versi che, come ormai siamo abituati, hai tradotto magistramente, mettono in evidenza che anche l’amore, apparentemente disinteressato non esiste. È nella natura umana quel do ut des degli antichi. Se non ho nulla da dare non troverò nessuno che mi dia una mano se sono in difficoltà. E se ci fosse un “buon samaritano” il suo aiuto sarebbe una ricompensa – morale – per se stesso. Oddio, come il mondo degli umani mi appare nero!
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Questa tua accurata analisi, che condivido totalmente, forse dimostra che quando arriviamo a una certa età siamo disillusi perché abbiamo visto sgretolarsi molti degli ideali in cui credevamo: amicizia, amore, altruismo….
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Il mio motto, che ho adottato secoli addietro, quando di norma si è pieni di speranze, non ha mai lasciato spazio alle illusioni e qundi nemmeno all’idea di un amore ASSOLUTAMENTE altruista. L’umanità ogni giorno mi dice che ho ragione. Grazie Luisa🌹 della risposta. Buona serata 🙏🤗
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😘😘😘
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[…] Solitude […]
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Thank you 🙏🌺🤗🌹
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Leggo molto raramente le poesie; questa l’ho letta e l’ho trovata di una terribile realtà. Ho dovuto ricordarmi il particolare che se qualcuno ti chiede “Come stai?”, se questo “qualcuno” non è vero amico (colla A maiuscola), bisogna sempre dire: “Benissimo”.
Buona serata.
Quarc
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Purtroppo è l’unica risposta considerata cortese da chi non ha nessun reale interesse in noi 🙏
Buona serata, Quarc caro
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A great post again Luisa. The words of Ella Wheeler Wilcox are so true. People you think that might help out in your hour of need will often disappear into the woodwork, while those you thought would never give you the time of day often turn up out of the blue.
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You are right: our expectations are often disappointed. Fortunately, as you say, there is someone from whom we did not expect anything that instead proves helpful.
Thank you for your reflection
Have a nice evening and a wonderful weekend
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You too 🙂
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💎 – Diamond Hard – 💎
💎 “Alone” but NOT!!! Lonely; because Crying “Alone” in The Absence of The Mockery of Others is Cleansing and Clears The Eyes
💎 “Alone” in a Crowd; because The Poor, Sad Soul wants to Fit In yet is a MisFit while The “Solitary” Soul Recognises That ALL is Connected ergo NEVER!!! “Alone”
💎 “Alone” in “Solitude” Remembering Who I Truly AM; because when YOU!!! Truly Remember Who YOU!!! ARE Other Peoples Opinions Don’t Matter at ALL unless YOU!!! CHOOSE!!! for Their Opinions to Matter
…it’s Crystal Clear Clarity that “Laughter” is often Fake, False and Fraudulent EveryOne; while Crying is ALWAYS!!! Honest, even Crocodile 🐊 Tears EveryBody…
💎 – Diamond Hard – 💎
…💎💎💎…
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Beautiful!!!
Thank you 🙏❣️🙏
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💜 YOU!!! ARE Most Welcome SupaSoulSis; it’s a Pleasure 🙏 to Serve, Stay Strong and Serene, We ARE One who ARE Many rather than Many who ARE One
…💛💚💙…
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Bellissima e veritiera!
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Grazie di cuore ❣️
Buona serata
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Thanks for being such a good internet friend.
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bellissima e tanto vera! E poi, alla fine, Hopper è una gemma preziosa ❤
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Grazie. Sempre
Un abbraccio 💕
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I read one of her books. I think it is My Antonia. But I’ve never read her poems.
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Thank you so much for your message
Have a great rest of the weekend.
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Good read! 🥺
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Thank you very much! I am so happy and pleased that you enjoyed it.
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That’s a beautiful poem. Such a tasteful collection of reality and rhythm.
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Many thanks! I am very pleased that you liked it and am so happy to receive your continued kind support! 🙂
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How truly written such a beauty this is and the bitter truth of life sadly.
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You are so right.
The poem describes human attitudes so sadly
and painfully widespread
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Yeah sadly this is true, in better days there are many but when you badly need someone none turns up, I do hope humanity returns again in this world.
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🙏💗🙏💗🙏
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La solitudine molto spesso è invisibile a molti purtroppo.
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Purtroppo è così…. come tutte le malattie dell’anima 💗💗💗
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due strofe iniziali emblematiche. Se ridi troverai molti a ridere con te ma se piangi ci sarà il vuoto intorno a te. Verissimo
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Purtroppo molti lo provano spesso sulla propria pelle!
Buona serata e grazie per il messaggio 🙏❣️🙏
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A pochi piacciono stare accanto a una persona triste che piange.
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Vero 🙏🙏🙏
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sera
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Io ho sempre la sensazione che l’essere umano, intimamente parlando, sia sempre solo.
Solo anche se felice, se attorniato da familiari ed amici, solo anche in mezzo alle persone.
Perché quando prendi sonno sei solo, quando pensi sei solo, e quando muori se solo con il tuo destino.
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Una riflessione meravigliosa su cui sono totalmente d’accordo.
Ci sentiamo solo anche alla nascita, quando siamo strappati, all’improvviso, fuori da un luogo in cui eravamo al sicuro, protetti
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La mia è una visione filosofica, direi, e forse pessimistica.
Ma forse oggettiva.
Per esempio, se ti ammali, capisci che sei solo a combattere contro la malattia,
Certo, puoi essere aiutato o incoraggiato, ma alla fine sei 1Vs1.
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🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
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C’è una grande verità in questa bellissima poesia.
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Purtroppo….
Buona serata❣️🙏❣️
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Love this! Thank you so much for sharing!
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So glad you enjoyed this poem!
Thanks a lot
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[…] Solitude […]
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Thank you very much for linking 🙏🙏🙏
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“Laugh, and the world laughs with you;
Weep, and you weep alone.”
How significant these words are.
That poem holds so many truth and facts.
Thanks Luisa for sharing this piece.
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Your kind words are very much appreciated. I’m really glad you enjoyed the poem!
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Ofcourse ❣🙌
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🌹🌹🌹
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This is a truly beautiful and accurate poem!
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Thank you so much! i really appreciate your words!
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Unfortunately true! This poem is beautiful! Thank you for sharing.
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Thank you very much for your reading and kind comment.
I agree: the poem portrays a sad truth.
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[…] Solitude […]
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Thanks a lot 🌹🌹🌹
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[…] Luisa Zambrotta per questo nuovo spaccato sulla solitudine della […]
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Grazie di cuore 🙏😘😘😘
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[…] Solitude […]
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Thanks a lot for reblogging 🙏🌹🙏
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True…nice post😊🙏
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Thank you! 🙏🙏🙏
I sincerely appreciate you reading and commenting.
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😊🙏
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