Sicilian Poetry

Terpsichore

Nino Cirrincione ( 1925?-2013? )

portrait of Nino Cirrincione Nino Cirrincione lives in Bagheria where he was born. A Sicilian poet who writes his poetry in Italian.

His poetry is available in numerose anthologies both in Italy and abroad. He has been awarded hundreds of prizes in national and international competitions including the "Viareggio", the "Valentino d'oro", and the international "Coppa d'oro d'Europa" on 2 April 1995 at Rome. His publications include: Spirito d'amore (1995), Magica armonia (1996), Mezzo secolo d'amore (1996), and Il nostro sentiero (1997).

This poetry selection is a sample of his work chosen from his latest book, Il nostro sentiero, Our Pathway, Thule, Palermo, 1997, 242 pp.

An illuminating single sentence paragraph plucked from the introduction of Il nostro sentiero reads, "La gente felice sa poco della vita." (Happy people know little about life.) It is by walking along difficult paths that Cirrincione has rediscovered hope.




Il Libro Della Vita

È fredda la luce della luna.
Un grillo notturno zufola,
avvolge con amore il buio.
Respirava con fatica
il seno di madre e nonna.
Faceva rivivere
la mia nascita:
il grido arenato
di fiera saettante
liberato a nuova vita.
Dà ancora fiato il petto
serpente d'acqua viva,
regala giardini d'iride.
È stata perfetta
la tua morte
specchiata e riflessa
d'intimo dolore,
incanto estremo d'innamoramento.
È silenzioso il paladino
con la spada nel fodero.
Vede il tormento,
osserva
turbini oscuri
annerire vestiti.
È veramente saggio
chi ha sfogliato
il libro della vita.

The Book Of Life

The light of the moon is cold.
A nocturnal cricket sings,
it glories in the shrouding darkness.
Bothe a mother and grandmother
her breathing was labored.
It made me revisit
my birth:
the cry of firstlife
the bold exclamation
a new life freed.
Still breathes the undulating
breast of living water,
bestowing gardens of irises.
Your dying
has been completed
resonant and reflective
of innermost pain,
the unconditional chant of love.
Your knight in armor is silent
with his saber sheathed.
He sees the torment,
observes
the darkened tumult
the now black dresses.
One is truly wise
after having turned the pages
of the book of life.
--English translation by Arthur Dieli

From the book, Il Nostro Sentiero, by Nino Cirrincione, Thule, Palermo, 1997, 242 pp.

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Last updated 7/5/15