once upon a time....

XX

Andavo per sentieri perfidi,

dolorosamente incerto.

Le vostre care mani mi guidarono.

Pallidissima sull'orizzonte estremo,

luceva una speranza debole d'aurora:

il vostro sguardo fu il mattino.

Nessun rumore, se non il suo passo sonoro

incoraggiava il viaggiatore.

La vostra voce mi disse: "Ancora avanti!"

..........................................................

(P. Verlaine)

Mi colpiva ogni giorno –

sempre era nuovo il lampo

come se in quell’istante si spaccasse la nuvola

e sprigionasse il fuoco.

Mi bruciava, la notte,

mi torturava in sogno;

e di nuovo doleva nel mio sguardo

ad ogni raggio mattutino.

Credevo passeggeri gli uragani –

tanto più brevi quanto più violenti.

Di questo, invece, la natura perse il conto,

 lo lasciò nel cielo.

(E. Dickinson  1862)

Did I see you down
in a young girl's town
With your mother in so much pain?
I was almost there
at the top of the stairs
With her screamin' in the rain.

Did she wake you up
to tell you that
It was only a change of plan?
Dream up, dream up,
let me fill your cup
With the promise of a man.

Did I see you walking with the boys
Though it was not hand in hand?
And was some black face
in a lonely place
When you could understand?                    

Did she wake you up
to tell you that
It was only a change of plan?
Dream up, dream up,
let me fill your cup
With the promise of a man.

Will I see you give
more than I can take?
Will I only harvest some?
As the days fly past
will we lose our grasp
Or fuse it in the sun?

Did she wake you up
to tell you that
It was only a change of plan?
Dream up, dream up,
let me fill your cup
With the promise of a man.