Gabbiani

Vincenzo Cardarelli

Non so dove i gabbiani

abbiano il nido,

ove trovino pace.

Io son come loro

in perpetuo volo.

La vita la sfioro

com’essi l’acqua

ad acciuffare il cibo.

E come forse anch’essi

amo la quiete,

la gran quiete marina,

ma il mio destino è vivere

balenando in burrasca.

Seagulls

Vincenzo Cardarelli

I don’t know where seagulls

have their nests,

where they find peace.

We are alike

in continuous flight.

I skim over life

like they do the water

to snatch up a meal.

Also like them perhaps

I love the quiet,

the vast quiet seas,

but my fate is to live

striking in the storm

Translation ©Matilda Colarossi 2018