Sicilian Poetry
Sicilian Poetry |
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Claudio Rinaudo (1932 - 2010) | |
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Claudio Rinaudo lives and works in Palermo where he was born in 1932. He is a founding member of the Circolo Culturale "Giacomo Giardina" of Bagheria and a member of the A. N. C. I. S. International Association. He first started writing in 1980 with poetry in Neopolitan and then progressed to Sicilian where he found his stride and started collecting prizes and critical acclaim. He has experienced particular success with his humorous works, cabaret texts, songs, and theatrical plays. His publications include: Pinsannu Pinsannu (1997), U Lampiuni (1998), and 2000 Risate (2000). This poetry selection is a sample of his sometimes sardonic humor.
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Scenza SiculaLa midicina pì campari a longu,si chiama parra picca 'ntà stu munnu; stu farmacu va priparatu 'ncasa, senza bisognu di la cassa mutua. Si pigghia anticchia di nun ti 'ntricari, una sbrizzidda di cu ti cì 'mmisca, una manata di nun sacciu nenti, si metti 'ntà la tazza, s'arrimina. E l'hai a pigghiari sempri ogni matina, cu stu dicottu nnì canusciu a unu, nenti di menu ca campò cent'anni. -Ma comu potti fari? Zu Giuvanni? arrè vi l'haju a diri? Don Totò? stetti mutu e si fici i cazzi sò. Rinaudo, Claudio, U lampiuni, Thule, Palermo, 1998, p. 77. |
Sicilian RespectThe medicine for a long life,is called speak little in this world; this remedy is concocted at home, you won't need to go to the bank. Take a little bit of don't get involved, a splash of who got you mixed up in it, a handful of I don't know nuthin, put it in a cup and stir. You must always take it every morning, with this potion; I knew someone, who lived no less than a hundred years. -But, Uncle John? How could this be? Mister Sal, must I tell you again? he spoke little and didn't meddle. --English translation by Arthur Dieli |
La Crisi Di L'AcquaSi nun grapemu l'occhi, cari amici,nni manca l'acqua di sutta li peri. Li dighi sunnu sicchi, cchiù nun chiovi, mancu putemu mettiri li fasoli! Si la matina a facci voi lavari, a li pomperi po' telefonari. Di pulizii 'n casa, nun nn'a parrari, l'acqua è cuntata e nun la poi spriari. Io, pi furtuna mia, mi lavu a siccu e tantu abbili, certu, nun li fazzu. Ma quaccheduna c'havi la piscina, nni sparagnassi anticchia p'a latrina! Pirchì si dura ancora la siccità, mancu si pò lavari u... nasu e u coddu. Puru lu pisciajolu va di latu, lu baccalaru siccu nun l'ha vinnutu. E lu mè tavirnaru è troppu vunciu, dici: "'nto vinu, ora, chi cci junciu?" "Sugnu cu l'acqua a gula" nun lu pò diri pirchì di certu nun ci pò arrivari. Cu sta scarsizza d'acqua l'ha capiri, t'a stari mutu e nun t'a lamintari! Rinaudo, Claudio, 2000 Risate, EraNova-BANCHERI EDITRICE, Delia (CL), 2000, p. 112. |
The Water CrisisMy friends, if we don't open our eyes,to water we can bid our goodbyes. The dikes are dry, the last rain we've seen, out of the question, we can't plant beans! To just wash your face in the morning, the water truck you'll need to be calling. Cleaning the house, perish the thought, water is tallied, for cleaning there's nought. Luckily I do a dry wash of myself most of my needs are left on the shelf. But someone who has a pool in his yard, a bit for the toilet would not be so hard! Because if this drought does not pass, we can't think about washing our... nose and neck. Even the fishmonger is fit to be tied, he has sold none of the cod that he's dried. And my barkeep is now wearing a frown, saying: "to the wine I can't add, I feel lke a clown?" He can't say "I've had it with water up to here" because there's no water, about that it's clear. 'bout this scarcity of water, you must understand, you need to be silent, ne'er a solution demand! --English translation by Arthur Dieli |
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