"Scherzo," by Vincenzo Cardarelli; "Trick," by Vincenzo Cardarelli, English version, translated in English by LiteraryJoint

Le Bûcheron et l'Hamadryade Aïgeïros (1870), by Émile Bin; Cherbourg-Octeville, musée Thomas-Henry.

Trick

The wood in Springtime

has a soul, a voice.

It is the singing of the cuckoo full of air, 

that sounds as blown through a flute.  

Inside the recall, softer

than the deceiving echo,

we proceed in delusion:

The chestnut tree is light green.

Even the ancient brooms 

are oozing.

Around the shady tree trunks,

amidst the playful sunbeams, 

are dancing the hamadryads.(*)


From the Collection"Poesie," 1942.

(*) Wood nymphs. In Greek and Roman Mythology, a wood nymph who lives only as long as the tree of which she is the spirit lives. From [Middle English amadriad, from Latin Hamadryas, Hamadryad-, from Greek Hamadruas : hama, together with; see sem- in Indo-European roots + Druas, dryad (from drūs, oak; see deru- in Indo-European roots).] American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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. 

Scherzo

Il bosco di primavera

ha un'anima, una voce.

è il canto del cucù pieno d'aria,

che pare soffiato in un flauto.

Dentro il richiamo lieve

più che l'eco ingannevole,

noi ce ne andiamo illusi:

Il castagno è verde tenero.

Sono stillanti persino

le antiche ginestre.

Attorno ai tronchi ombrosi,

fra giochi di sole,
danzano le amadriadi.

Dalla raccolta "Poesie," 1942.