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| Rosetta Fidora Ruiz |
Her first collection of poetry appeared in 1973 under the title 'E Vvarche e ‘O Core. In 1980 she published her well known collection 'O Viulino with Editore Delfino. She has been crowned by critics as the Neapolitan language “Poet of Love”. She also authored the lyrics of many Neapolitan songs set to music by Matassa and Marchese among others, and which were recorded by various artists. She authored a verse version of the Via Crucis and in 1976 became the first woman to write a dramatic sceneggiata, which was staged at the Teatro 2000 in Naples. Her early works are housed in the National Library of Naples and in the Lucchesi-Palli library.
Fidora in addition to participating in many radio broadcasts on Radio Ischia’s Diamoci del Del Tu Nel Cuore della Notte hosted by Beppy Banfi, she also was a frequent guest in the Salotto Tolino and she travelled with the Associazione dei Poeti e Scrittori Dialettali d’Italia. She also served as a judge in Neapolitan poetry events. She was awarded by the Foyer des Artistes in a ceremony at Palazzo Barberini in Rome with Cardinal Oddi. In 1986, upon request of Curzio Malaparte’s family, her poem Villa Malaparte was set in the wall of the entrance to the novelist’s Capri villa. Beyond her literary output, she is remembered for her generosity and frequently worked with various charities at a national level, appearing on radio and television to raise funds for sick and disabled children.
From her vast writings, one of the most iconic and popular among the Neapolitan public is her 1980 poem ‘O Viulino, considered emblematic of her poetics in classical Neapolitan. Her 1982 poem Snoopy is likewise characteristic of her writing and Neapolitan feeling in its reminiscence of a stray dog she lovingly adopted.
‘O Viulino
Rosetta Fidora Ruiz
Pe stu suonno ca faccio stasera ,
torna ancora guaglione stu core ,
pecchè sente 'int''all'aria leggera ,
nu mutivo ca parla d'ammore .
Ciento amice me stanno vicino
ma tu sulo , c''o ssaje te n'adduone,
ca sò sola a sentì stu viulino ,
ca nzurdina pe me tu mo suone...
Chesti nnote ricordano a 'o core ,
nu suspiro , nu triemmulo 'e mane ,
na cartella , nu libbro , nu sciore ,
nu saluto ca dice : «Dimane!»
Chesti ccose 'e tenevo astipate
nzieme 'e ccose ca voglio scurdà...
ma stasera , sti nnote sunate ,
ll'hanno fatto pe n'ora turnà!...
The Violin
Rosetta Fidora Ruiz
Through this dream I’m having this evening ,
this heart of mine is a girl’s again ,
because it hears in the light air ,
a motif that speaks of love .
A hundred friends are near me
but only you , know and realize it,
that only I hear this violin ,
that you now play softly for me...
These notes remind the heart of
a sigh , a tremble of the hand ,
a folder , a book , a flower ,
a greeting that says : «Until tomorrow!»
These things I’d kept stored away
together with the things I want to forget...
but this evening , these notes played ,
made them come back for an hour!...
Snoopy
Rosetta Fidora Ruiz
Se dice spisso, «Il cane mio lo sai
Ha il pedigree. È tanto ubbidiente,
se lo vedessi a zonzo non va mai,
perché di razza pura, veramente!»
‘O cane mio, invece è lazzarone,
nun tene ‘o pedigrì è mpertinente,
sta sempe stiso a ‘o sole, è nu birbone,
nun fa nemmeno ‘a guardia… nun fa niente!
Tene na recchia ‘e renza, n’ata aizata,
n’uocchio nfussato e proprio ‘o naso ‘e cane,
ma chi antrasatto ‘o ncontra mmiez’’a strata
nun pò fà a meno ‘e dí: «Che bellu cane!»
Pirciò, che saccio, è overo c’’a bellezza
ncopp’a sta terra nun è certo tutto,
pecché, se fa cchiù spisso na carezza
a chi pe sciorta nera è nato brutto!
Snoopy
Rosetta Fidora Ruiz
One often says, «You know my dog
has a pedigree. He’s so obedient,
if you see him he never goes roaming,
because he’s a pure breed, truly!»
My dog, instead is a lazzarone,
he doesn’t have a pedigree, he’s impertinent,
he’s always laying out in the sun, he’s a rascal,
he doesn’t even guard anything… he does nothing!
He’s got an ear flopped over, another raised,
a sunken eye and a real dog’s nose,
but those who suddenly encounter him in the middle of the street
can’t help but say: «What a beautiful dog!»
Therefore, I know, it is true that beauty
in this world is certainly not everything,
because, one often gives a caress
to one who by bad luck was born ugly!
*Translations and Notes by Cav. Charles Sant’Elia
