Journal of Italian Translation

Adria Bernardi/Raffaello Baldini
The Saint
So. I believe, I believe in it, in a something,
and I’m not ashamed, but I’m not at all claiming,
I, people, as far as I’m concerned, each one has got to do
however one experiences it, according to one’s conscience,
we’re not living in the old days anymore, I’m just saying
when I hear certain discussions, arguing otherwise,
what’s there to discuss, it’s merely one opinion,
I don’t agree, then let it rest, have respect,
that it is a mystery as well, if you ask me
how I feel about it, I don’t know,
but when I’m in church, the priests have got nothing to do with it,
how can I put it? it is our shared religion,
but I’m not some pious bigot, I go there,
you’re not going to believe me but six days ago,
one afternoon, passing by, I say: I’m going to stop,
in the Collegiata, and inside it was so cool, Peppino
was in there sweeping, I was standing,
silent, in that half-light,
and the thought came to me there, I know it is present in every place,
but in church, and you, you really have it in for the priests,
of course even they make mistakes,
they are human just like us,
why? you think we never make mistakes? this is a world
where we should all be brothers, love one another,
as one’s self, but
don’t you see the injustice, the egotism,
the cruelty, we are never content,
which makes me think sometimes,
if you’re right
that it all ends here, how can that be, so then
the ones with power always win?
robbing, killing, it’s bad enough they never get caught,
if up above us there is no one,
haven’t you ever looked up there?
all those stars, millions,
arrived, crying, it’s her mother,
you can imagine, and the two of us, in the hallway,
waiting, how long will it be? what are they doing to her in there?
to my wife? by this time it was morning,
My Lord! Mother of God! in these moments
I don’t know how those who don’t believe get through it,
it is a need, to address someone,
that you are in his hands, he can help you out,
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