Giorgio Caproni said his poetry was “in shirt sleeves” until, after editing, it wore a jacket. But whether in shirt sleeves or jacket, it is an extraordinary thing of complex simplicity. Oh cari Apparivano tutti in trasparenza. Tutti in anima. Tutti nell’imprescindibile essenzaDell’ombra. Ma vivi Vivi dentro la morte come…Read more Giorgio Caproni: Oh cari/ Oh dear ones…
Trilussa: La tartaruga/ The tortoise
It's always hard to translate dialect or, rather, slang. Slang can be so diverse. Trilussa enjoys writing in Romanesco, the dialect of Rome. I did my best, and maybe I failed, but the meaning here goes far beyond the words: live your life to the fullest; ride your scooter until you're almost 97 years old;…Read more Trilussa: La tartaruga/ The tortoise
Vittorio Sereni: Quei tuoi pensieri di calamità/ Those thoughts of yours of calamity
This brief poem by Vittorio Sereni is composed of a series of anastrophes: these inverted sentences seem to have been assembled, taken apart, and then reassembled to lessen the pain of the inevitable death. And the rhythm is hiccupy as though set to the beat of sobs. Quei tuoi pensieri di calamità Vittorio Serenie…Read more Vittorio Sereni: Quei tuoi pensieri di calamità/ Those thoughts of yours of calamity
Grazia Deledda: Famiglie povere/ Poor families
As always, Grazia Deledda is able to capture the vast array of feelings that touch the human heart and recount them as if she herself had lived them. In so doing. she makes it possible for us, as readers, to also feel those emotions. FAMIGLIE POVERE Grazia Deledda Povera e numerosa era la…Read more Grazia Deledda: Famiglie povere/ Poor families
parallel texts: words reflected 