Let’s read and listen together to this very short but intense poem ‘To the ant’ by Gianni Rodari
I apologize to the ancient fairy tale
If I don’t like the stingy ant.
I’m on the side of the cicada
That the most beautiful song doesn’t sell, it gives away.
The poem Alla cicala by Gianni Rodari is an original rereading of Aesop’s famous fairy tale The cicada and the ant, but with a reversal of the traditional moral message. While in the classic version the cicada is reproached for its lightness and lack of foresight, Rodari instead celebrates it as a symbol of freedom, art and poetry.
Rodari often sides with artists and dreamers, opposing a purely productivistic vision of life. In his poetry, the cicada is not a sloth, but an inspiration that fills the summer with music and beauty. This reflects the value of art and creativity, which cannot be reduced to a mere utilitarian calculation.
The tone of the poem is light and ironic, but it contains a deep message: life is not only made of work and fatigue, but also of moments of joy and inspiration. With its simple and accessible style, Rodari invites us to reconsider our relationship with time, work and happiness.
