Journal of Italian Translation - Brooklyn College - Academic Home ...

Charles Sant’Elia / Luciano Somma
SAILOR HEART
Poor heart of mine, a sailor,
it lives in the water and is not a fisherman
it seeks and does not find the light of a night lantern
it’s searching in the darkness.
It wanted sweetness but it finds bitterness
and it would have given everything for love
this life so cruel an enemy
far from the harbour with serenity.
Atop these waves the boat is hard-pressed on the prow
and evening slowly approaches
poor and disconsolate it hopes yet
that the echo of mermaids will make it arrive.
Suddenly the sky becomes dark
a lightning flash, then thunder, a storm!
Without a soul how naked is this heart
but it beats strongly, it does not want to stop.
The oars have become heavier
the boat is sinking and it doesn’t seem real to it
it wants to save itself, but there are no saints,
... and disconsolately it fades away...
SCRATCH AND WIN
“Scratch and win” this life begins
where the path has already been marked
for those who live, winning the match,
and those who loose, it is written, it is destined!
Up to here it doesn’t rain, patience,
but to those who say: “This world is mine!”
The memory that is only appearance
in the globe in God’s hands.
We are all traveling companions on a journey,
where it is often not a trip to the countryside,
and those who can not enjoy this landscape
what can they do, they’ve got foggy vision.
Let’s not seek the motive, a reason,
a response for the echo of these voices
for these things there is no explanation
it is a mystery this weight of a cross.
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