Tuesday, October 7, 2008


In Cappuccio Forest
there's a slope
of green velvet
like a lovely
overstuffed chair

My dozing off there
alone
in a far-off cafe
with a faint light
like this one
this moon is shedding


Once upon a Time
Giuseppe Ungaretti
August 1, 1916
translated by Andrew Frisardi

34 comments:

  1. That view is so similar to Kluane National Park, Willow.

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  2. Both the photo and the poem...beautiful.

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  3. Willow, A beautiful photo accompanied by a very nice poem. Thanks for sharing.

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  4. The photo you chose wonderfully illustrates the poem..."there's a slope of green velvet like a lovely overstuffed chair"

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  5. I don't know which I like better... the poem or the photo. They are perfectly matched, comforting, and beautiful.

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  6. wouldn't that slope of velvety green moss be a delight to see? lovely photo and verse. i like YOUR new title photo as well!!

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  7. Hmmmm...a green velvet slope. Now that is where I would love to waste a few hours.

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  8. Ah, but it wouldn't be wasted! It would be an investment in beauty and peace! :^)

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  9. The photo and poem are perfect together, Willow! What a beautiful shot!

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  10. That a wonderful picture. Did you take it? Blessings

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  11. Oh Willow, how lovely. I know a place like that just up from the Seealpsee in Kanton Appenzell with beechwoods climbing up the slope.
    A beautiful issustration for the poem.

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  12. Beautiful, beautiful photo.

    How I'd love to be there.

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  13. Beautiful photo for the right time of the year, and divine poetry. Thanks for sharing, Willow.

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  14. Such a wonderful scene, Willow. As you, October is my favourite month - so colourful, cool, crisp. Here is a poem for you...

    October

    October is the treasurer of the year,
    And all the months pay bounty to her store;
    The fields and orchards still their tribute bear,
    And fill her brimming coffers more and more.
    But she, with youthful lavishness,
    Spends all her wealth in gaudy dress,
    And decks herself in garments bold
    Of scarlet, purple, red, and gold.

    She heedeth not how swift the hours fly,
    But smiles and sings her happy life along;
    She only sees above a shining sky;
    She only hears the breezes’ voice in song.
    Her garments trail the woodlands through,
    And gather pearls of early dew
    That sparkle, till the roguish Sun
    Creeps up and steals them every one.

    But what cares she that jewels should be lost,
    When all of Nature’s bounteous wealth is hers?
    Though princely fortunes may have been their cost,
    Not one regret her calm demeanor stirs.
    Whole-hearted, happy, careless, free,
    She lives her life out joyously,
    Nor cares when Frost stalks o’er her way
    And turns her auburn locks to gray.

    ~Paul Laurence Dunbar

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  15. The date of the poem poignantly underlines why one may dream of such peaceful scenery, what with all the horror of World War I around him.

    I hope you share more of the Ungaretti poems, I quite like this translation.

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  16. What a gorgeous photograph, I love looking at moss close up, like a tiny forest.

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  17. Lovely poem, willow. Goes brilliantly with the picture.

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  18. I'm so sorry I missed the ball but I had flu.
    I love Leonard Cohen's First we take Manhattan and would have wanted the first dance to this with Cary Grant and second with Robert Mitchum (I would have brought him along).
    This photo and poem are beautiful, thanks for sharing.
    Your header pic is lovely as well, in fact everyhting you give us is a treat to the eye and ear.

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  19. Suza, thank you for this lovely poem. October is my favorite month, too. I especially like that last line!

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  20. "an investment in beauty and peace".....I love that and totally agree!

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  21. This is absolutely one of my favorite types of Nature Photos. Thanks for sharing. Perfect poem.

    Sorry for the sort reply, but We haven't been blogging much lately and commenting even less except in special cases. We should be back to normal in a month or so.

    Thanks for the visit,
    Troy and Martha

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  22. Beauty abounds in this post.

    The first post I ever read from your blog had an Ungaretti poem, and I remember saying to myself after reading it that I needed to procure a copy of his work. This post is a lovely reminder that I have not yet done so. It's a lovely day for a walk to the neighborhood book store, so today may well be the day that I make good on my intention.

    Thank you.

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  23. This will get your attention! Mama and I stayed at the Grand Hotel, Mackinaw Island Monday & Tuesday. The hotel is quite famous in fact was the location for the movie "Somewhere in time" starring Jane Seymour & Christopher Reeves.

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  24. Yes! I know The Grand Hotel! So lovely and romantic. Hope you didn't find any strange old pennies there. Wouldn't want you to get stuck back somewhere in time.

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  25. What a gift you have for discovering the most a propos poems and images.
    Lovely.

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  26. the colors are so beautiful ...


    :-Daryl

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  27. just lovely ~ thanks for that little forest trip!
    like your new header as well ~blessings

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  28. Beautiful photo and poem very nice... Always !

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  29. Gorgeous picture, wherever that is.

    So, where's Sorbie Castle? i jsut saw that. Looks very intiguing!

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  30. I was going to keep it a surprise but you will be my guest for my next 'Living in a Bilingual World' series. The reason? This post is a good place to begin. In this column I will be addressing (once again!) the problems translators face when transposing works from different languages.

    'there's a slope
    of green velvet
    like a lovely
    overstuffed chair'

    This is my favourite line of the poem. It's a very powerful image and coupled with the photo, it makes for a filling snack (it's almost my lunchtime here, ergo, the reference :-D)

    Thanks for the post.

    Greetings from London.

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  31. Lovely tranquil picture. Reminds me of the fairy woods of my childhood.

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  32. Woodlands like this speak to the Celt in me!...Fantastic post...

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Inject a few raisins of conversation into the tasteless dough of existence.
― O. Henry (and me)