"Evening of Gavinana" (Sera di Gavinana), by Vincenzo Cardarelli, from the collection "Poesie," 1936

The ancient Gavinana, medieval hamlet in the comune of San Marcello Piteglio, Pistoia, Italy.

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.

 

 

Evening of Gavinana (Sera di Gavinana)

 

Here is the evening and the rain stops

on the Tuscan Apennines.

As the clouds descend to the valley,

huddled here and there

like mist nests amongst the intricate trees,

the mountains grow purple in color.

A sweet wandering then

to whom during the day toils

and in himself, in disbelief, wallows.

From the busy hamlets, here below, comes

a glad and thick jabber in which

one perceives the declining day

and the imminent rest.

Mingled with it is the throbbing, the high and dry

pounding of the truck on the wide

white road that crosses the mountains.

And everything in the evening,

crickets, church bells, springs,

becomes a concert and a prayer,

trembles in the clear air.

And how shiner is,

in the hour that has no other light,

the blanket of your hips, Apennines.

On your fields that climb in wide turns,

this green liquid, that peeks again

amongst the sun's deceits at every downpour,

to the wind it changes colors, and enraptures me,

along the  restless path,

and tenderly hushes

the vagabond soul.

From the collection "Poesie," 1936, 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.