Il cielo a San Mauro
Il cielo a San Mauro diventa color malva
quando si specchia nel Mediterraneo, è così evidente
dai piedi della montagna
su cui mi trovo
l'aria si impregna dell'odore della terra ricca e scura,
degli aromi intensi del rosmarino e della lavanda.
translated by Maria Giovanna Barra
The Sky in San Mauro
by Maria Mazziotti Gillan
The sky in San Mauro turns mauve
over the Mediterranean, visible
at the base of the mountain
on which I stand
and the air rushes past gnarled fig trees
and graceful ones bent like dancers
under the weight of large lemons,
the air fragrant with the scent of dark, rich earth,
the tang of rosemary and lavender.
Standing here looking out over so much open space,
I feel buoyant as if my feet
were no longer bound to the earth. I think
of my ordinary life,
my appointment book so full it is difficult to read,
no time for this incredible stillness,
which I wrap around me now in San Mauro
like a silk shawl,
of my every day, a list of things I must do
until I too am bent, under the weight
of so many people who need me,
of my desk covered in books to be reviewed,
letters to be answered, programs to plan,
so this moment, this blessed moment
when I can breathe in the clean mountain air,
this moment, a salve on burned skin,
this moment, a treasure I will carry with me
to remind me how fortunate I am,
just to pause, to breathe this glorious air.
Maria Mazziotti Gillan's most recent books are the poetry and photography collection, Paterson Light and Shadow and the poetry collection, What Blooms in Winter . Her collection of poems along with some of her paintings is The Girls in the Chartreuse Jackets . Maria's official website is MariaGillan.com.
No comments:
Post a Comment