In this installment, we're featuring the Neapolitan poetry of Luciano Somma.
Speranza 'E Natale
Di Luciano Somma
‘O mmale ‘e nu munno ‘mpazzuto
me trase ‘int’’o core stasera
nu core ca cerca n’aiuto,
l'aiuto 'e na mano sincera…
Pe’ ll’aria nu suono ‘e zampogna
me porta ‘a nuvena ch’è doce
ma è spina ca ‘mpietto me pogna
sentenno pesante sta Croce.
Sole ‘e Natale puortece
‘o pizzo a rrisa ‘e Ddio
cu’’o verde d’’a speranza
pace e serenità
dacce dint’’a sti juorne
carezze d’alba, ‘e cielo,
scacciala 'a nuje pe' sempe
tutta sta ‘nfamità!
Christmas Hope
By Luciano Somma
The evil of a world gone mad
Enters into my heart this evening
A heart that seeks help
The help of a sincere hand.
Through the air the sound of bagpipes
Bring me the novena which is sweet
But it is a thorn that pricks my chest
Feeling heavy this Cross.
Christmas Sun bring us
God's smile
With the green of hope
Peace and serenity.
Give us in these days
Caresses of dawn, of sky,
Scatter away from us forever
All of this infamy!
Translated by Cav. Charles Sant’Elia
* Self-published in 2010, Meridiunalata/Southernade is a treasury of poems gleaned from Cav. Sant'Elia's previous collections (Nchiuso dint''o presente, 'A cuntrora, and 'O pino e l'éllera), which were circulated among friends in New York City and Naples. Special thanks to Cav. Sant'Elia for allowing us to reprint his poetry and translations.
nu core ca cerca n’aiuto,
l'aiuto 'e na mano sincera…
Pe’ ll’aria nu suono ‘e zampogna
me porta ‘a nuvena ch’è doce
ma è spina ca ‘mpietto me pogna
sentenno pesante sta Croce.
Sole ‘e Natale puortece
‘o pizzo a rrisa ‘e Ddio
cu’’o verde d’’a speranza
pace e serenità
dacce dint’’a sti juorne
carezze d’alba, ‘e cielo,
scacciala 'a nuje pe' sempe
tutta sta ‘nfamità!
Christmas Hope
By Luciano Somma
The evil of a world gone mad
Enters into my heart this evening
A heart that seeks help
The help of a sincere hand.
Through the air the sound of bagpipes
Bring me the novena which is sweet
But it is a thorn that pricks my chest
Feeling heavy this Cross.
Christmas Sun bring us
God's smile
With the green of hope
Peace and serenity.
Give us in these days
Caresses of dawn, of sky,
Scatter away from us forever
All of this infamy!
Translated by Cav. Charles Sant’Elia
* Self-published in 2010, Meridiunalata/Southernade is a treasury of poems gleaned from Cav. Sant'Elia's previous collections (Nchiuso dint''o presente, 'A cuntrora, and 'O pino e l'éllera), which were circulated among friends in New York City and Naples. Special thanks to Cav. Sant'Elia for allowing us to reprint his poetry and translations.
