When we learn a foreign language, we tend to concentrate primarily on the prosaic, rather than the poetic, and hence we become pretty good at using the utilitarian language that helps us to achieve practical everyday tasks, such as shopping or asking for information. However, when it comes to describing things, or events in a more interesting, let’s say ‘poetic’, manner, we find ourselves out of our depth. That’s why every now and then I like to write a blog that leans towards the descriptive rather than the purely practical.

Living in a beautiful part of Italy called Lunigiana, I’m never short of inspiration; I only need to look at la veduta dalla mia finestra (the view from my window) to start getting all poetic! Here is what I see this morning:

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Sullo sfondo, c’è un cielo limpido, azzurro, con una falce di luna pallida.

In the background there is a clear blue sky, with a pale sickle moon.

Ci sono le colline boscose, quasi tutti gli alberi spogli senza le loro chiome. I colori sono marrone grigiastro e castano, viola pallido e verde cupo.

There are the wooded hills, almost all the trees naked without their foliage. The colors are grayish brown and chestnut, pale violet, and deep green.

I raggi del sole cominciano a toccare gli alberi sul crinale della collina più alta. Alcuni alberi sono illuminati e risaltano luminosi contro quelli che sono ancora in ombra.

The suns rays begin to touch the trees on the brow of the highest hill. Some trees are illuminated, and stand out bright against those that are still in shadow.

Più in basso, si intravvede tra gli alberi il rettilineo della stradina che porta al nostro paese, mentre nel fondovalle c’è il fiume, che scorre impetuoso e spumeggiante, carico della pioggia dei giorni scorsi e della neve che si scioglie.

Lower down amongst the trees you can glimpse the straight line of the road that runs to our village, whilst in the bottom of the valley flows the impetuous and foamy river, loaded with the rain of the last few days, and the melting snow.

Sotto casa nostra, si scorge la bella arcata del ponte medievale che attraversa il fiume.

Below our house, you can make out the beautiful arch of the medieval bridge that crosses the river.

Su questo fianco della valle ci sono le terrazze coltivate, trattegiate dai filari di viti e alberi di olivi.

On this side of the valley there are the cultivated terraces, sketched with rows of vines, and olive trees.

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