Tag Archives: Italian Poetry
La Margherita di Trilussa Posted by Serena on Apr 13, 2017
“M’ama … non m’ama” (“he/she loves me … he/she loves me not”). In the innocence of our youth we pulled petals one by one from le margherite (daisies) hoping to discover whether the object of our heart’s desires truly loved us or not. Do today’s kids still do that, or do they now have an…
Ah, l’Amore! Posted by Serena on Feb 13, 2017
San Valentino, protettore degli innamorati … tomorrow is his special day. It’s also that one day a year when we are officially expected to be all soppy and romantic … yuk! So many ways to celebrate that special day with your beloved: Cioccolatini a forma di cuore, un mazzo di rose rosse, bigliettini pieni di…
Viene La Befana Posted by Serena on Jan 6, 2017
Today, the sixth of January, we celebrate l’Epifania (the Epiphany), which commemorates the arrival of i Tre Re Magi (the Three Wise Men) in Bethlehem. Today also marks the end of the Christmas festivities (collective sigh of relief!). Before the modern era of globalization, and the adoption of certain traditions from America, l’Epifania was the…
Ode To An Odious Teacher Posted by Serena on Nov 25, 2016
A few days ago I wrote a post in which I recounted a pleasant episode that took place when I was a 15 year old student at the Liceo Classico in Lucca. This was a very strict old fashioned school, in which the teachers never paid compliments to the students, but only put them down…
Ottobre – A Poem Posted by Serena on Oct 21, 2016
Every season has its own beauty. Autumn brings exhilarating colours, the smell of must and wine, and the miracle of the sun ‘that can’t bid us farewell, returning every morning like a new miracle’. These are the thoughts expressed by the poet Vincenzo Cardarelli (1887-1960) in his poem Ottobre, which he wrote in the autumn…
An Italian Poetess Posted by Serena on Jul 6, 2016
I was in the mood for a poem. A poem full of beautiful words, which played with words in unexpected ways, a poem which was just plain poetry, music to my ears. So after much reading I finally turned to one of my favourite Italian poets, Alda Merini (1931-2009) known as la poetessa dei Navigli…
An Italian Poem for Father’s Day Posted by Serena on Mar 18, 2016
Here in Italy, the 19th of March is La Festa del Papà (Father’s day). Here’s a beautiful poem written by Camillo Sbarbaro (1888 – 1967) and published in 1914 in the collection Pianissimo. The poem takes its title from the first line: Padre, se anche tu non fossi il mio padre (Father, even if you…