Alda Merini – Veleggio come un’ombra / Sailing as a shadow

Witold Pruszkowski, Falling star, 1884

Sailing as a shadow
in a dozing day,
unknowingly
I identify myself 
as disposed on an altarpiece among many
to be eaten by whoever.
I believe hell
is enlightened by those
strange lights themselves.
They want to feed on my pain
because theirs, perhaps,
never falls asleep.

(Transl. by D. Foglia)

Veleggio come un’ombra
nel sonno del giorno
e senza sapere
mi riconosco come tanti
schierata su un altare
per essere mangiata da chissà chi.
Io penso che l’inferno
sia illuminato di queste stesse
strane lampadine.
Vogliono cibarsi della mia pena
perchè la loro forse
non s’addormenta mai.

This is a personal translation. Please contact me if you know another English translation.