Flash forward to the time of free verse, and we have reams of personal anecdote, essentially floralizations of prose. A sidestep attempt to reconcile all this was the “confessional” poetry of the last few decades, which attempts to reveal the socially-less-acceptable aspects of the “I.” But still, couched within the plays at self-deprecation, we find self-aggrandizement once removed. So, to me, the question of “I” this late in the development of poetry has become more central, more curious, and more complex than ever before.

Interestingly enough, I saw a translation of Saba’s poem that used the second person (i.e. “you”) instead of the “I.” A strange move, and possibly an attempt to mitigate what you call “too much explicit information.” Ultimately, I think the poem works a bit better in Italian. But I agree, it does come up to that line. For me, the concept is so strong, I am willing to forgive him any slight excess.

“Tell all the Truth but tell it slant—
Success in Cirrcuit lies
Too bright for our infirm Delight
The Truth’s superb surprise
As Lightening to the Children eased
With explanation kind
The Truth must dazzle gradually
Or every man be blind—”

Saba’s poem crosses the line of “too much explicit information” for me. If I was writing the poem, I think the use of “Semitic” alone should have been grounds to remove the I. But that’s just me, the poem is still great.