“Farfalle libere” [Butterflies freed] is more than a poem: it is a tribute to women. Written in 1993, Alda Merini takes on one of societies worst crimes, the violence against women. ln Italy 24,7% of women have suffered physical or sexual abuse by men who are not their partners, 13,2% from strangers; and 13% from people they know. (ISTAT)
| MA DA QUESTE PROFONDE FERITE USCIRANNO FARFALLE LIBERE Alda Merini O donne povere e sole, violentate da chi non vi conosce. Donne che avete mani sull’infanzia, esultanti segreti d’amore tenete conto che la vostra voracità naturale non sarà mai saziata. Mangerete polvere, cercherete d’impazzire e non ci riuscirete, avrete sempre il filo della ragione che vi taglierà in due. Ma da queste profonde ferite usciranno farfalle libere. | BUT FROM THESE DEEP WOUNDS WILL COME BUTTERFLIES FREED Alda Merini Oh women poor and alone, raped by those who don’t know you. Women with your hands on infancy, exultant secrets of love keep in mind that your natural voracity will never be sated. You will eat dust, you will try to go mad and you won’t succeed, you will always have the thread of reason which will cut you in two. But from these deep wounds will come. butterflies freed. Translation ©Matilda Colarossi 2021 |
One of the most difficult parts of this translation is found in Alda Merini’s last line: farfalle libere. This literally means freed/released/liberated butterflies; but I couldn’t imagine these words, in this order, as the title of a tribute to women. And Farfalle libere is Italian is definitely a tribute. I opted for butterflies freed, for that is, I believe, what all women are when they are strong enough to leave their wounds and hurt behind.
For more works by Alda Merini:
https://www.mondadoristore.it/suono-dell-ombra-Poesie-Alda-Merini/eai978880468940/
Painting: Poppies and butterflies, Vincent Van Gogh
Violence against women in Italy: https://www.istat.it/it/violenza-sulle-donne/il-fenomeno/violenza-dentro-e-fuori-la-famiglia/numero-delle-vittime-e-forme-di-violenza
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parallel texts: words reflected 