“I know you shouldn’t say this, but, in the end, I find both men and animals detestable”
On May 18, 2010 , the poet Edoardo Sanguineti left us. I would like to remember him today by posting one of his most famous poems.
Siamo tutti politici (e animali) Edoardo Sanguineti Siamo tutti politici (e animali): premesso questo, posso dirti che odio i politici odiosi: (e ti risparmio anche soltanto un parco abbozzo di catalogo esemplificativo e ragionato): (puoi sceglierti da te cognomi e nomi, e sparare nel mucchio): (e sceglierti i perché, caso per caso) ma, per semplificare, ti aggiungo che, se è vero che, per me (come dico e ridico) è politica tutto, a questo mondo, non è poi tutto, invece, la politica: (e questo mi definisce, sempre per me, i politici odiosi, e il mio perché: amo, così, quella grande politica che è viva nei gesti della vita quotidiana, nelle parole quotidiane (come ciao, pane, fica, grazie mille): (come quelle che ti trovi graffite dentro i cessi, spraiate sopra i muri, tra uno slogan e un altro, abbasso, viva): (e poi, lo so che non si dice, ma, alla fine, mi sono odiosi e uomini e animali) |
We are all politicians (and animals) Edoardo Sanguineti We are all politicians (and animals: that said, I can tell you that I detest detestable politicians: (and I will spare you even the briefest draft of an illustrative and articulate list): (you can choose the names and surnames for yourself and start firing into the crowd): (and decide why, case to case) but, to make it easier, I will add that, if it’s true that, for me (as I have said again and again) everything is politics, in this world: (and this is my definition, again, my own, of detestable politicians, and my own reasoning: I, therefore, love that big politics that is alive in everyday actions, in everyday words (like hi, bread, cunt, thanks a lot): (like the things you find scratched inside toilets, sprayed on walls, between one slogan and another, down-with this, long-live that): (and then, I know you shouldn’t say this, but, in the end, I find both men and animals detestable) Translation ©Matilda Colarossi |
A bit of trouble translating and deciding between political and politicians (same word, politici, in Italian, which can be so wonderfully confusing and pungent), and opted for the one I liked best. M.C-.
I chose this graffiti by Bansky, because I truly believe poetry can set us free…
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