|
Via
Maffucci covered with snow |
| calitri
tradizioni |
| The past and its traditions can be relived in various ways. Writing,
especially verse, can evoke images, gestures, and sensations of
yore. |
| The poems that follow, originally in Calitrian dialect, were chosen
because of their beauty and simplicity. |
| We defer to each reader for comments since we don’t want
to prejudice their perceptions—a subjective prerogative. |
| Special thanks go to Michele Rauseo for his oral rendering of
the lyrics that follow. |
| calitri
tradizioni |
LU
VIERN' |
THE
WINTER |
F'rnuta
eia la bbona staggion'
e bben' malign' lu viern',
attuorn' p' tutt' lu 'nfiern',
li juorn' 'mpr'ggion' a rr'stà. |
The good weather has ended
And nasty winter is here,
All around is an inferno,
For days you‘re stuck indoors.
|
Nu
tiemb' ra lup' e ra can'
sc'rnat' amm'nazza cchiù bbrutt',
r' ffuock', amm'rtut', 'nda grutt',
s'mman' cchiù a stient' a passà. |
Weather for wolves and dogs!
And every day it gets worse.
The fire glows sleepily in the taverns,
And weeks creep along at a slow pace.
|
Lu
ciucc' chi fac' ciampiesc',
lu sorg' uardign' r'ncasa,
lu uatt' 'nt'zzon' s'annasa,
scarpiesc' nn' sient' arr'và. |
The donkey tramps the straw,
The mouse cautiously seeks cover inside,
The cat huddles close to the fire,
Not a footstep is heard outside. |
La
nev' chi scenn' scardann',
lu maschk' chi resta cchiù chius',
la vecchia chi uarda 'mpr'ttus',
malann' nn' bol' p'glià. |
The snow falls in slivers,
The house door stays shut at length.
An old woman doesn’t dare to go out,
Outdoors she may get sick. |
|
Canio
Vallario (B'llin') |
|
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