Sandro Penna – Amore, gioventù / Love, youth

Giorgione, Sleeping Venus, c. 1508

Love, youth, joyful words,
what shines on you? What shrivels you up?
A smell as dried shit is still lingering in the air
along the sun-filled hedges.

(Transl. by D. Foglia)

Amore, gioventù, liete parole,
cosa splende su voi e vi dissecca?
Resta un odore come merda secca
lungo le siepi cariche di sole.

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