Journal of Italian Translation

Adria Bernardi
oiktros, evoking pity or forgiveness
erotesis, rhetorical question implying strong affirmation or denial
orcos, oath
threnos, lamentation
ara, curse or imprecation
decsis, vehement supplication of gods or men
diasymus, disparagement of opponent’s arguments
aposiopesis, stopping suddenly in midcourse, leaving a statement
unfinished
apostrophe, breaking off discourse to address directly some present or
absent person or thing
Dove sei? (Where are you?)
an oratorio in four tempos for soloist, chorus and piano.
The translator read it late one night,
intending to phone the next day to ask
if it was possible to get a copy of the music.
There was a message on the answering machine.
The translator was feeding paper
into a printer, catching yet more errors.
Mumbling and imprecations.
Cartridge out of ink. Empty paper tray.
A computer talking back: Printing Error.
White stacks on floor,
packages prepared for release
to known addressees
to reach the unknown interlocutor.
The window was open in Milan.
motorbikes sputtering,
a tram creaking and rolling past on rails,
movement away from the receiver,
and footsteps echoing away,
then returning, pages rustling.
Here it is, he said.
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