Ottobre, Vincenzo Cardarelli (October, by Vincenzo Cardarelli), English translation

Annual Event dedicated to the poet
Vincenzo Cardarelli, held in Tarquinia, Italy

Continuing with our presentation of poems by Vincenzo Cardarelli, with the season of Fall as a theme, here is the remarkable October, in which the poet  decidedly switches gears, when compared to Autunno (Autumn). With a change in tone, the lengthy, melancholic farewell gives space and breath to a new, mellow, voluptuous sentiment; the intimate awareness of a full  maturity that precedes senility leaves behind the labored worries of youth and adulthood. Presently, the poet rejoices in the allegoric smell of the pungent odor of must and wine. It is already the time to abandon himself to a leisurely idleness, and sweet contemplation. In the vineyards, the grapes have been already harvested. 'Plundered' is the word, that evokes a loss, which nonetheless has been acknowledged, if not yet accepted.  The sun is rather shiny than hot; color takes over warmth, just as  rational understanding triumphs over passion in the meditative mind.

      October 

Once, it was in Summer,

it was at that fire, at those ardors,

that my imagination awakened.

I incline now towards Autumn

of a color that raptures;

I love the tired season

which has already harvested the grapes.

No other thing resembles me more,

nothing consoles me more,

than this air that odors

of must and wine,

of this old sun of October

shining in the plundered vineyards.

Unexpected Autumn sun,

shining as in a beyond world,

with tender perdition

and vagabond happiness,

you find us exhausted,

braced for the worst and with sorrowful souls.

This is precisely why we cherish you,

vague, surviving sun:

you know not how to bid us farewell

coming back every morning

like a renewed miracle,

the prettier the more you fade

and are about to expire.

And with these stunning days

you compose your own season

which is thoroughly a sweet agony.

From the collection "Poesie", 1942, by Vincenzo Cardarelli.  

From "Vincenzo Cardarelli: The Forgotten amongst the Great. A Collection of the Best Poems by Vincenzo Cardarelli, Translated in English," available as e-book on Amazon Kindle, iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, on NOOK Book, on Kobo, and as printed, traditional edition through Lulu.

          Original text in Italian:

Ottobre 

Un tempo, era d’estate,

era a quel fuoco, a quegli ardori,

che si destava la mia fantasia.

Inclino adesso all’autunno

dal colore che inebria;

amo la stanca stagione

che ha già vendemmiato.

Niente più mi somiglia,

nulla più mi consola,

di quest’aria che odora

di mosto e di vino,

di questo vecchio sole ottobrino

che splende nelle vigne saccheggiate.

Sole d'autunno inatteso,

che splendi come in un di là,

con tenera perdizione

e vagabonda felicità,

tu ci trovi fiaccati,

vòlti al peggio e la morte nell'anima.

Ecco perché ci piaci,

vago sole superstite

che non sai dirci addio,

tornando ogni mattina

come un nuovo miracolo,

tanto più bello quanto più t'inoltri

e sei lì per spirare.

E di queste incredibili giornate

vai componendo la tua stagione

ch'è tutta una dolcissima agonia.

  

Vincenzo Cardarelli, dalla raccolta "Poesie", 1942