“Dear Sandro, I am reading your extraordinary book of poems Stranezze (Garzanti), to me “the strangenesses” seem absolutely in tune with the universe you live in […] no one like you has maintained, for so many years, the same grace and clarity of voice…” Giacinto Spagnoletti – from a letter dated December 26, 1976
| FALSA PRIMAVERA Sandro Penna Placidi gatti, amanti (sul prato l’ora è ferma) di vetri luccicanti. Goffamente beati, da odore di caserma si spogliano i soldati. Ma effimero è alle cave ansie il sole che ami. Al vespro aspro, è grave il cielo ai secchi rami. | FALSE SPRING Sandro Penna Placid cats, lovers (on the grass time has stopped) of sparkling glass. Awkwardly joyous, smelling of barracks the soldiers undress. But ephemeral to the empty angsts is the sun you love. In the bitter vesper, heavy is the sky at the dry boughs. Translation ©Matilda Colarossi |
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parallel texts: words reflected 