happiness

Alessandro Parronchi – Nulla è più lieto / Nothing is more joyous

Diego Rivera, Evening twilight at Acapulco, 1956 Nothing is more joyousthan a gray daywhich suddenly opens upto a hope of sunshine inflaming the evening,and finally sets – but before one last effulgenceit floods the night with light for you. (Transl. by D. Foglia) Nulla è più lietod’un giorno grigioche a un tratto si aprea una speranza …

Alessandro Parronchi – Nulla è più lieto / Nothing is more joyous Read More »

Cesare Pavese – Canzone di strada / Street song

Martin Rico y Ortega, San Lorenzo River with the Campanile of San Giorgio dei greci, Venice, c. 1900 Why be ashamed? When one has done time,if they let one out, it’s because like everybody elsewho belongs to the streets, one has been in prison. From morning till evening we wander the avenueswhether it’s raining or …

Cesare Pavese – Canzone di strada / Street song Read More »

Bartolo Cattafi – Feste calme / Calm holiday

Isaac Levitan, A day in June, 1895 Skylarks rejoicein the calm holidays of heaventhe olive darkens on the groundthe green fades awayin the robin’s clear ticking. (Transl. by D. Foglia) Esultanze d’allodolenelle feste calme del cieloin terra l’oliva imbrunail verde svanisceal ticchettio terso del pettirosso. This is a personal translation. Please contact me if you …

Bartolo Cattafi – Feste calme / Calm holiday Read More »

Pedro Calderón de la Barca – La vita è sogno / Life is a dream

Hendrik Goltzius, The Sleeping Danaë Being Prepared to Receive Jupiter, 1603 Why are you surprised? Why are you astonished,when my teacher was a dream,and in my anxiety I’m afraidI may wake up again and find myselfonce more in my lockedcell? And even if that doesn’t happen,merely dreaming it might is enough:for in that way I …

Pedro Calderón de la Barca – La vita è sogno / Life is a dream Read More »