We have to revalue this garden
enclose it where is open with hell-blue mashes
replacing the rotten poles
pale for the age with other ones
just barked and so white-coloured
that they gild themselves in the air slowly
and happily and the rains and the snows
yet to come are going to silver them
so that their age cannot be more distinguished.
At the right time remember to send
here the seeds in order to take care
that this earth become fruitful
which produces only high nettles
and rough dogtooth violet and from a stroken tree
wild excessive sweet plums.
Worth of such wretched land
the west exposure and thus
on its slope the evening sun
brushing our faces, old hound
dog on the track between sky and woods
sublime for their highness and their black tangle of branches.
(Attilio Bertolucci, from: Viaggio d'inverno, 1971)
Originally posted in Italian on February 20, 2008 at 0:01
Mu
Two messy eyebrows
one little childhood scar.
The skyline on the sand
and four drops of green tea.
So one writes blank.
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Decisions for a garden (by Attilio Bertolucci)
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1 comment:
I find that this poem, which I’ve chosen to open the section of others’ poems, has a natural place in the context of this blog.
The Italian line of «antinovecentismo» often offers moments of really «blank» poetry, where only spontaneity and pure intention remain, surprising the reader with everyday ordinariness.
Here in particular, the work, or even just the intention of work, puts these verses next to the all practical sensitivity of zen, which is also typical Japanese.
Originally commented on February 20, 2008 at 0.26
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