Italian Poetry, for English speakers
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italianpoetry.bsky.social
Italian Poetry, for English speakers
@italianpoetry.bsky.social
57 followers 73 following 43 posts
A blog to guide your appreciation of Italian poetry, even if you don't speak Italian. Translation line by line next to the original; highlight each word to see to what it corresponds; listen to the poem read out loud.
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italianpoetry.bsky.social
A mega-classic, longer poem, from the decadent, mega-famous (and excessively controversial) Gabriele D'Annunzio. Listen to the luxurious (and erotic) recreation of the soundscape of a grove in the rain

italianpoetry.it/poems/la-pio...
June 28, 2025 at 2:31 PM
italianpoetry.bsky.social
I finally took the time to present my favourite poem ever, the achingly beautiful *Night chant of a travelling shepherd of Asia*, by Leopardi.
It's longish, and cosmically sad, but so worth it. Do read.

italianpoetry.it/poems/canto-...

#poetry #poemoftheday #poem #poems #italian #literature
Canto notturno di un pastore errante dell'Asia, by Giacomo Leopardi
We read and discuss the poem 'Canto notturno di un pastore errante dell'Asia', written in 1830 by Giacomo Leopardi. It talks about meaning of life
italianpoetry.it
April 13, 2025 at 9:52 AM
italianpoetry.bsky.social
A simple (unrequited) love poem, from the great Torquato Tasso. It's just a modest madrigal, but man does it roll off your tongue!

italianpoetry.it/poems/unape-...
Un'ape esser vorrei, by Torquato Tasso
We read and discuss the poem 'Un'ape esser vorrei', written in 1567 by Torquato Tasso. It talks about love, bees and unrequited love
italianpoetry.it
March 2, 2025 at 4:26 PM
italianpoetry.bsky.social
Here is a beautiful classic that I hardly can stand anymore, having been force fed it innumerable times in school and in all sorts of anthologies.

italianpoetry.it/poems/alla-s...

#poetry #poemoftheday #poem #poems #italian #literature
February 1, 2025 at 11:48 AM
italianpoetry.bsky.social
In this short epigram (listen to in on the website), Giusti has a suggestion for young writers.
in contemporary terms we could translate into the KISS principle: “Keep it simple, stupid!”

#poetry #poemoftheday #poem #poems #italian #literature

italianpoetry.it/poems/avvert...
And here are the full text: Di concetti difficili e stravolti Non fabbricare a te sfingi e chimere: Cerca modi spediti e disinvolti, E non far, come i dotti di mestiere, rime col tiro a secco, o versi sciolti, Che vanno avanti a calci nel sedere. Ma pensa e di' le cose tali e quali, pensatamente schiette e naturali. and my too-literal translation: Do not fabricate to yourself sphinxes and chimeras Of difficult and distorted concepts: Seek quick and casual ways, And do not make, like the scholars by profession, rhymes with dry shots, or loose verses, That go forward [only] with kicks in [the] ass. But think and say the things just as they are, thoughtfully frank and natural.
January 18, 2025 at 11:09 AM
italianpoetry.bsky.social
Not sure what the very best way to start a year might be, but one can't go wrong starting with a smile.

(Please check out this poem on italianpoetry.it/poems/rinova... for the full experience)
Se nell'Anno cadente ottantadoi Hai goduto quel ben, che t'augurai, Men congratulo teco, e più che mai Dal Ciel tel prego, e da' Pianeti suoi. Guidi lunge da te Saturno i Buoi, Che tranno il Carro suo carco di guai. Nè la spada malefica già mai Sfoderi Marte iracondo a danni tuoi. Giove t'arrida, e Venere con lui, Nè il Sol, Cintia, o Mercurio influssi rei Sparga mai sovra te da' Cerchi sui. In somma ogn'un di lor t'esalti, e bei, E ti conservi, per diletto altrui, Eternamente quel Coglion che sei. and my too-literal translation: If in the declining year eightytwo You have enjoyed that good, which I wished to you, I congratulate myself about it with you, and more than ever From Heaven I ask it for you, and from its Planets. May Saturn guide far from you the Oxen, That pull his Chariot loaded with woes. Nor may ever Mars unsheath the malefic sword, irascible, to your damage. May Jupiter smile upon you, and Venus with him, Nor may the Sun, Cynthia, or Mercury evil influences Ever spread over you from their Circles. In sum, may every one of them exalt you, and make happy, And may they conserve you, for delight of others, Eternally that Ass that you are.
January 1, 2025 at 11:10 AM
italianpoetry.bsky.social
Christmas happens every year, even when we are at war. This poem by Ungaretti is introduced by the indication "Napoli il 26 dicembre 1916": he was on temporary leave from the front of WW1, and visiting his friend's house in Naples.

italianpoetry.it/poems/natale/
#poem #poetry #literature #war #Xmas
Natale, by Giuseppe Ungaretti
We read and discuss the poem 'Natale', written in 1916 by Giuseppe Ungaretti. It talks about Christmas, solitude, war and wearyness
italianpoetry.it
December 24, 2024 at 2:31 PM
italianpoetry.bsky.social
A mother tries to be a good Catholic and not to mourn the death of her son, who is now, she is sure, in the arms of God.

For the notes, the whole translation and to listen to the original: italianpoetry.it/poems/amato-...

#poem #poetry #poemoftheday #italian
Amato figlio, or che la dolce vista Sicuro affiggi nel gran Sole eterno, Né tema hai più di cruda state o verno, Né gioia provi di dolor commista: Vorrei che a quel pensier che sì m’attrista Della perdita tua dessi governo: Che quantunque dal falso il ver discerno, Tropp’ei l’anima mia turba, e contrista. E non vorrei pel duol, ch’ogn’altro avanza Essere a te men cara appresso Dio, Poiché già non piang’io tua lieta sorte. Piango solo la morta mia speranza Di quà vederti e tanto è il desir mio Che dolce e bella mi parebbe morte. Translation: Beloved son, now that you securely fix the sweet sight in the great eternal Sun And you don’ t have fear anymore of cruel summer or winter Nor doyou feel ajoy mixed with pain: I wish that I had mastery over that thought of your loss, that so saddens me. Because although I distinguish the truth from the false, Too much it troubles my soul, and saddens And I would not be less dear to you next toGod because of the pain, that surpasses all other pains Since I actually do not cry your happy fate. I only cry formy dead hope Of seeing you here and my desire is so great that death would seem sweet and beautiful to me.
December 22, 2024 at 8:52 PM
italianpoetry.bsky.social
Leon Battista Alberti was one of the great architects of the Italian Renaissance. Like many humanists of the period he wore several hats: mathematician and cryptographer, linguist, inventor.
italianpoetry.it/poems/io-vid...
#poem
#poetry
#poemoftheday
#italian
#literature
> Io vidi già seder nell’arme irato > uomo furioso palido e tremare; > e gli occhi vidi spesso lagrimare > per troppo caldo che al core è nato. > E vidi amante troppo adolorato > poter né lagrimar né sospirare, > né raro vidi chi né pur gustare > puote alcun cibo ov’è troppo affamato. > E vela vidi volar sopra l’onde, > qual troppo vento la summerse e affisse; > e veltra vidi, a cui par l’aura ceda, > per troppo esser veloce perder preda. > Così tal forza in noi natura immisse, > a cui troppo voler mal corrisponde. and my too-literal translation: > I have seen before [an] angered furious pale man > bearing arms, and tremble; > and I often saw eyes weeping > for too much heat that to the heart is born. > > And I saw [a] lover too aggrieved > [being] able neither to weep nor to sigh, > nor rarely did I see he who can not even taste > any food when he is too famished. > > And I saw [a] sail fly over the waves, > which too much wind submerged it and affixed; > and I saw [a] hound, to whom it seems [even] the air yields, > > lose [its] prey for being too swift. > Thus nature instilled in us such force, > to which too much wanting matches badly.
December 15, 2024 at 10:08 AM
italianpoetry.bsky.social
Cristina Campo was a sickly child, homeschooled, and grew to be very shy and reserved. She always had a very close relationship with her parents, both successful artists.

italianpoetry.it/poems/la-tig...

#poetry #poems #literature #italian
The original text of the poem Ahi che la Tigre, la Tigre Assenza, o amati, ha tutto divorato di questo volto rivolto a voi! La bocca sola pura prega ancora voi: di pregare ancora perché la Tigre, la Tigre Assenza, o amati, non divori la bocca e la preghiera… And a translation Alas, because the Tiger, the Tiger Absence, oh beloved, has devoured everything of this face turned to you! Only the mouth pure still prays you: to pray still lest the Tiger the Tiger Absence, oh beloved, devour the mouth and the prayer…
December 4, 2024 at 8:11 PM
italianpoetry.bsky.social
Boccaccio’s fame is tightly linked to his collection of novels, il Decamerone — especially so in English speaking countries, where he is recognized as a fundamental model for Chaucer’s The Canterbury’s Tales.

italianpoetry.it/poems/intorn...

#poetry #poem #italian
Intorno ad una fonte, in un pratello Di verdi erbette pieno e di bei fiori, Sedeano tre angiolette, i loro amori Forse narrando; et a ciascuna il bello Viso adombrava un verde ramoscello Che i capei d’ ôr cingea; al qual di fuori E dentro insieme i dua vaghi colori Avvolgeva un soave venticello. E dopo alquanto l’una alle due disse, Com’io udì — Deh se per avventura Di ciascuna l’amante qui venisse, Fuggiremmo noi quinci per paura?  —  A cui le due risposer — Chi fuggisse, Poco savia sarìa con tal ventura — 
December 3, 2024 at 10:20 PM