Baby Wailing (Vagito) by Giovanni Pascoli, “Myricae” (1891-1900)

 

The following translation of "Vagito" (Baby Wailing) by Giovanni Pascoli is from the book "The Poems of Giovanni Pascoli: Translated in English, with Original Italian Text," published by LiteraryJoint Press (2017). Also available as Amazon ebook (Free on Kindle Unlimited!) and  on Kobo.

 

Baby Wailing

Mommy...white, on a bed that is white,
you sleep. Who was that on your face composed that satisfied sorrow and that tired smile?

You sleep: around the languid pillows
all is turning white. Around you all things make small hushing signs.

And all turns into a dawn and all is silent. Is this the purpose, is this the beginning of a rite? Through a silence of white laces
speaks the mystery in a baby wailing sound.

From the collection “Myricae” (1891-1900) 

 

Vagito

Mammina... bianca sopra il letto bianco tu dormi. Chi sul volto ti compose
quel dolor pago e quel sorriso stanco?

Tu dormi: intorno al languido origliere tutto biancheggia. Intorno a te le cose fanno piccoli cenni di tacere.

E tutto albeggia e tutto tace. Il fine
è questo, è questo il cominciar d’un rito? Di tra un silenzio candido di trine
parla il mistero in suono di vagito.

From the collection “Myricae” (1891-1900)