‘O Mese ‘E Maggio
C’addore ‘o’ mese ‘e maggio
Dint’’a casa ‘e notte,
Ca s’arapésseno tutt’’e feneste
Pe m’’o purtà,
Ca tu l’astipasse
Int’’e capille
St’addore ‘o’ mese ‘e maggio.
The Month of May
What a scent in the month of May
In the house at night,
I wish they would open all the windows
Dint’’a casa ‘e notte,
Ca s’arapésseno tutt’’e feneste
Pe m’’o purtà,
Ca tu l’astipasse
Int’’e capille
St’addore ‘o’ mese ‘e maggio.
The Month of May
What a scent in the month of May
In the house at night,
I wish they would open all the windows
To bring it to me,
That you would store it up
In your hair,
This scent in the month of May.
* 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.
That you would store it up
In your hair,
This scent in the month of May.
* 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.
