Ancient glade

 

 LISTEN TO - ASCOLTA 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Samhain, it is not the summer end 

it’s here the full summer in the land 

the temperatures are high 

I want to stop to cry 

 

There is no ritual in my hands 

they are open and asking for help 

the sky is still so blue 

of winter there’s no clue 

 

It is a long time I don’t come here 

where I can remember the past years 

suddenly I believe again 

There is a strange silence in the wood 

while I’m here to find again my roots 

they are here I hope in the depth 

 

My faith is old as this ancient glade 

through which men passed with a sacred sense

I am a crumble of 

what it was here before 

 

It is a long time I don’t come here 

where I can remember the past years 

suddenly I believe again 

There is a strange silence in the wood 

while I’m here to find again my roots 

they are here I hope in the depth 

 

1st November 2022

Like the others

 

LISTEN TO - ASCOLTA

I’ve always known 

that I would never be like the others 

Once I thought 

that maybe I could have be like the others 

but it’s not possible 

simply impossible 

But in some way I must be free 

that is the only fire in me 

I don’t know what will save me 

if salvation I can find 

I don’t know what I’m waiting 

or where I want to arrive 

It is a road 

that I have to walk without the others 

I am alone 

like everyone else like the others 

but most of them don’t know 

not all of them can know 

But in some way I must be free 

that is the only fire in me 

I don’t know what will save me 

if salvation I can find 

I don’t know what I’m waiting 

or where I want to arrive 

 26th October 2022

Beyond the sunrise

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stanotte, nel dormiveglia, ho percepito la casa (questa vecchia e tribolata casa) come fosse una nave. Una nave che si muove con la terra, nel mare immenso     del cosmo, da ovest verso est. Senza alzarmi dal letto, ho immaginato di affacciarmi alla finestra del mio studio, di fronte al castello, e osservare il cielo dell’est venirmi incontro. Come un oceano ignoto viene incontro a un navigatore cinquecentesco. Ho sentito i muri della casa scricchiolare per l’impatto della volta celeste e le stelle sfiorare le travi del tetto. Poi ho interiorizzato questo moto ancestrale e ho pensato che anche il sangue che scorre nelle mie vene e arterie subisca lo stesso moto. Dentro la casa, subisco l’influsso celeste e il mio futuro arriva da est e finisce a ovest. Stando affacciato alla finestra e guardando lontano posso scorgere la mia morte. Quel punto scuro al di là dell’alba. Il porto sicuro che accoglierà la mia sofferenza quotidiana, donandomi finalmente la pace. “Beyond the sunrise that is where we live, feeding our counsel and true comfort give, travelling men”.

 * Le parti in inglese sono tratte da “Beyond the sunrise” di Belle and Sebastian

Parnaso *

 

 Dietro al Parnaso 

 il sole raccoglie

 raggi superstiti 

 per donare alle muse 

 nuovi colori:

 mentre il mondo si spegne

 l'ispirazione si fa piccola

 percettibile soltanto 

 a pochi 

 

* Il monte sacro ad Apollo, dove risiedono le Muse 

Tithorea (Grecia) - 4 novembre 2022

Gli ultimi giorni del mondo

 

 Gli ultimi giorni del mondo 

 sono promesse storpie 

 il sole cade distratto 

 sempre più a sud 

 la luce è scollegata 

 dalla cadenza del tempo. 

 

 Io vivo un tempo sordo 

 strappato dall'assenza 

 con il cranio imbottito 

 di pensieri accuminati 

 e le mani incapaci 

 di stringere un senso.

Outiside the window

 

LISTEN TO - ASCOLTA 

Outside the window 

there is the life 

I keep freedom far 

when I’m inside here 

Maybe one day 

I will find courage 

to take the life by the hands 

and to start something new 

Suddenly the autumn has come 

and I’ve got nothing nothing to say 

suddenly the autumn has come 

and I have not yet new ways to pray 

the sun goes to the south 

there is no trace of sprout 

Outside the window 

there’s what I’d need 

maybe the time 

will be gone before me 

Outside the window 

season is changed 

and there is nothing 

I can do to avoid 

this new fall 

Suddenly the autumn has come 

and I’ve got nothing nothing to say 

suddenly the autumn has come 

and I have not yet new ways to pray 

the sun goes to the south 

there is no trace of sprout

Alban Elfed 2022

Before the Samhain praise

LISTEN TO - ASCOLTA 

Everything will be paid 

like it is right to say 

before the Samhain praise 

like sparks out of the flame 

I have got nests of thoughts into my black hair 

they are making them become everyday more gray 

Things change things change 

and I don’t understand 

I blame myself 

because of my choices 

but it’s not even my fault 

not always 

the weakness is not my pick 

it’s my curse 

There is the usual decay 

all around this sad place 

where I chose to dwell 

as the saddest of men 

I have got nests of thoughts into my black hair 

they are making them become everyday more gray 

Things change things change 

and I don’t understand 

I blame myself 

because of my choices 

but it’s not even my fault 

not always 

the weakness is not my pick 

it’s my curse

There is nothing wiser than the sea

 

LISTEN TO - ASCOLTA

The sound of the sea 

second of september 

the waves seem to speak to me to me 

and I live for this 

parenthesis of sand 

while the tides are touching my feet 

there is nothing wiser than the sea 

and I have a secret faith for it 

So special to me 

first days of september 

every year they teach something to me 

and this time it is 

bitter and so tender 

being here so far from everything 

there is nothing wiser than the sea 

and I have a secret faith for it 

In my ears 

the waters sing a song 

and it is the most ancient one 

In my ears 

the waters sing a song 

that can clean out the mess on the heart 

When I was free 

I can barely remember 

but now I can wash away my grief 

I do not have bliss 

Destroyed is my shelter 

but the sea says that there is no need 

there is nothing wiser than the sea 

and I have a secret faith for it 

In my ears 

the waters sing a song 

and it is the most ancient one 

In my ears 

the waters sing a song 

that can clean out the mess on the heart 

Marina di Bibbona, 2nd september 2022

Ogni cipresso

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ogni cipresso 

punta una stella 

dispersa nel cosmo 

nascosta alla vista 

 

Ci sono luoghi che non cambiano 

restano fuori dalla storia 

soltanto i pellegrini 

era dopo era 

sanno riconoscerli 

 

Bagno Vignoni, 31 agosto

Il rituale dell'acqua

 

 Il rituale dell'acqua 

 più antico delle colline 

 più antico della pelle 

 del cristallino oculare. 

 

 L'urlo possente 

 dal ventre della terra 

 ricordo delle ferite 

 del drago ancestrale. 

 

Rapolano terme, 31 agosto

It is still summer, it is my birthday

 

LISTEN TO - ASCOLTA

It is still summer 

it is my birthday 

but the autumn is 

already outside the window 

And my little fire 

it is still burning 

but is crying out 

like a weeping willow 

Every year is 

becoming more difficult 

to maintain the strength 

to go on alone 

But this sunlight 

cutting my image 

I feel it is charging 

me till to the bones 

It is still summer 

it is my birthday 

but the first one 

I have not gone 

to the birthplace 

of my real soul 

even if I am here 

and I am so close 

Every year is 

becoming more difficult 

to maintain the strength 

to go on alone 

But this sunlight 

cutting my image 

I feel it is charging 

me till to the bones 

19th August 2022

But I’m the only thing I have

 

LISTEN TO - ASCOLTA

I don’t want to know where 

I am going to go 

while every day 

seems a sort of fall 

I can fall but not always stand up again 

there will be the day I will call my end 

But I’m the only thing I have 

I do not have anything else 

with my hidden shaming rash 

and my immortal weakness 

And it’s not yet come time of death 

so I’ve to harness what it’s left 

In the last times 

 I have stopped to watch 

my reflection 

on the mirror 

so I don’t know if a strange wisp I have got 

so I cannot understand how much I’m old 

But I’m the only thing I have 

I do not have anything else 

with my hidden shaming rash 

and my immortal weakness 

And it’s not yet come time of death 

so I’ve to harness what it’s left

Baratro

Il cielo è di foglie d’argento 

distese su un lago di latte 

l’autunno celeste anticipa 

quello della terra assetata: 

l’estate è pronta a cadere 

nel baratro dell’ovest

Northwest sun

 

 LISTEN TO  - ASCOLTA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The last sun of spring 

is in front of me 

among the hills 

I see the light just scattering 

 

And now I can know 

after all I’ve learned 

northwest sun 

dies there behind the sacred peak 

 

And in this moment of total disorder 

the ancient knowledge’s got the role of border 

 

And I can only say that I am grateful 

to know where I am now it is so helpful 

 

The ancestors here 

knew that everything 

can become sacred 

if it’s oriented in the right way 

 

And that mountain 

it’s where they found death 

trying to fight 

to make their culture survive 

 

And in this moment of total disorder 

the ancient knowledge’s got the role of border 

 

And I can only say that I am grateful 

to know where I am now it is so helpful 

 

 

Alban Heruin, Summers solstice, 20th June 2022

Pensieri scomposti d’una sera d’estate

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Il canto assetato 

delle cicale 

morde le mie vene 

colme di vita 

in attesa 

 

Con luce affilata 

la luna muta 

foglie d’ulivo 

in puro argento 

e velluto 

 

Mi osservo obliquo 

attraverso 

gli occhi socchiusi 

delle colline 

d’occidente 

 

Tra sassi e tegole 

sui tetti caldi 

l'autunno tesse 

già la sua tela 

in silenzio 

 

Aronta* dalla grotta 

avrebbe forse 

compreso la fine 

di questo mondo 

e del mito 

 

* Aruspice etrusco citato nella Pharsalia di Lucano. Esperto interprete del volo degli uccelli, dei fulmini e delle viscere degli animali. Dante lo colloca nella quarta bolgia del cerchio ottavo (If XX 46-51) e lo dichiara abitante in una spelonca ne' monti di Luni.

Inerme

 

 Giugno mi consegna 

 al vento del sud 

 inerme come un ramo 

 rapito dal mare: 

 la luna nuova 

 allinea i pianeti 

 spada gigante 

 prima dell’alba

Poco

  

 A volte basta poco 

 la luce del meriggio 

 sulle pagine scritte 

 il suono del piano  

 nella mia testa 

 e poi il mare... 

 lacrime di sale 

 sui muscoli tristi.

 

(Ancona, 7 giugno 2022)

I need to celebrate

 

LISTEN TO - ASCOLTA

I need to celebrate 

even if there is no faith 

into my veins 

running to my brain 

I need to celebrate 

this new upcoming phase 

the year’s second stage 

starting with May 

I need to celebrate 

because it is my only way 

to remember that I am 

still awake 

I need to celebrate 

just to say thanks 

for nothing or for all 

don’t know how to say 

I need to celebrate 

these clouds that seem stains 

on the golden drape 

of the sunset 

I need to celebrate 

because it is my only way 

to remember that I am 

still awake 

I need to celebrate 

the curling landscape 

with the mountains 

that surround my head 

I need to celebrate 

as a rebellion act 

nobody can understand 

only me I can 

I need to celebrate 

because it is my only way 

to remember that I am 

still awake 

Beltaine 2022

Kindred characters

 

LISTEN TO - ASCOLTA

Yes I think I’m not 

ready for the loss 

ready to watch clearly my decline 

I admit I’m not 

able to support 

the battered soul I have inside 

I’ve driven a lot 

to attain your sacred grove 

and now you say I have again to go 

After we have lost 

all that we have known 

for a new and absurd dimension 

We are kindred characters 

in this comedy of life 

but we’re also different 

look at my worn out head 

With a leap we say goodbye 

to the winter into this night 

we can wait now for the sweat 

for the gleaming eager hands 

There’s a sort of ghost 

at the bedroom door 

at the end I have to say it all 

I don’t think you’ve got 

that spirit so strong 

also you are quite far from the top 

We are kindred characters 

in this comedy of life 

but we’re also different 

look at my worn out head 

With a leap we say goodbye 

to the winter into this night 

we can wait now for the sweat 

for the gleaming eager hands

Take exemple

 

 LISTEN TO - ASCOLTA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There's the sun in the sky 

it is springtime 

though there's a frozen white 

I guess it's the time 

of rebirth and I hope 

that I can now take exemple 

from the nature I know 

that I have to take exemple 

 

Then this dazzling light 

hit my hazel eyes 

I forget for a while 

that I'm in a strife 

which inexorably 

puts me into a bad tangle 

and there is no worship 

able to make it untangled 

 

So it's time to say 

that I have lost my way 

and nothing can sate 

my soul and my brain 

 

As she said to me 

I hope my shuttered dreams 

in tides can disappear 

and let me free 

 

There's a heap of despair 

into my head 

all the efforts I take 

seem feckless 

the nights are boundaries 

between the death and the life 

and I have to believe 

in something I cannot see 

 

So it's time to say that 

I have lost my way 

and nothing can sate 

my soul and my brain 

 

As she said to me 

I hope my shuttered dreams 

in tides can disappear 

and let me free

Carne stridula

 

Perso distratto 

lungo le vie dense 

città che confonde 

promette chimere 

futuri agognati 

menzogne di sangue 

carne stridula 

incapace di reggere 

l'entropia assoluta 

 

 Bologna 10th May

La storia

 

La storia è soltanto 

i tuoi capelli intrecciati 

gli esagoni imperfetti 

 dell'epidermide 

le pietre aguzze 

sotto i nostri piedi 

il silenzio delle campane 

il Sabato Santo

As Mars sauntered through his door *

 

Dopo la pioggia

le facce specchio

dei passanti 

riflettono nuvole

di emozioni nude

come stracci inzuppati

sull'asfalto. 

(Non serve chiudere 

le finestre occhi

quando Marte varca

la nostra porta più sacra)

* "Mentre Marte varcava la sua porta" ("Goodbye Pisces", Tori Amos)

Per non perdermi

    

 Primavera di est gelido 

 e di tepore ad ovest 

 il mio viso sul vetro 

 cappuccio grigio 

 oltre la candela 

 mi aggrappo al sacro 

 per non perdermi.

 

 

Alban Eilir

Even if it is not my home

 

LISTEN TO - ASCOLTA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Even if it is not my home 

I live here and I’m not alone 

And while the time is going on 

it’s recklessness or may be love 

since I know this place 

and it is not a shame 

 

I know it seems sometimes so wrong 

or only a kind of sloth 

sometime it’s easy to gear to all 

in order to not to lose the soul 

and then you understand 

everything can have sense 

 

I hadn’t dreamt a life like 

this running into the winter breeze 

among the strangers but with the 

awareness of what I need 

 

Have I forgotten childhood for a reason? 

To try to think that I’m out of my prison? 

 

I’ve got still crusts over my knees 

and I’ve my hands soiled of peat 

the child inside already killed 

so many times but I still bleed 

 

Have I forgotten childhood for a reason 

To try to think that I’m out of my prison? 

 

Someone said that things always come 

in the right moment to herald 

that you can wait and do not dart 

the lesson isn’t yet in your heart 

I let the debris far 

here I can still build up 

 

I hadn’t dreamt a life like this 

running into the winter breeze 

among the strangers but with the 

awareness of what I need 

 

Have I forgotten childhood for a reason? 

To try to think that I’m out of my prison? 

 

I’ve got still crusts over my knees 

and I’ve my hands soiled of peat 

the child inside already killed 

so many times but I still bleed 

 

Have I forgotten childhood for a reason? 

To try to think that I’m out of my prison?

Ritagli

 

 La vita è un pomeriggio

 di maledetto inverno

 con i rami del frassino

 che ritagliano il cielo

 frammenti di bianco 

 e di azzurro serico 

 dalla finestra osservo

 sul mio corpo disteso

Linfa sangue

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Forse è il tempo

ad attendere le querce

dai rami abulici. 

 

La stagione stagna

se la linfa sangue

resta ctonia. 

 

In silenzio vedo 

le vite degli altri

vendersi a ore.

A new tradition

 

 LISTEN TO - ASCOLTA 

 

 

 

 

 

Let me become the Imbolc light 

into the dark of winter tide 

I can pray here on my knees in front of the candle 

I can say in days like these it’s like a cradle 

 

I want to start a new tradition 

Here in this place that is my mission 

I’ll light a candle over the wood of windowsill 

eight windows one for every feast of the Wheel 

 

I celebrate today, for a reason 

to esc from my everyday prison 

I reckon that I need somewhere to land 

 

Imbolc is something like a miracle 

we’re out of the winter and in the middle 

It’s an ambience that bestows a rest 

 

This is the only feast I have 

never forgotten to be aware 

Also into the worst storms I lit a candle 

To say to my sympathetic God I need a rescue 

 

I celebrate today, for a reason

to esc from my everyday prison 

I reckon that I need somewhere to land 

 

Imbolc is something like a miracle 

we’re out of the winter and in the middle 

It’s an ambience that bestows a rest 

 

Imbolc 2022

Through a keyhole

 

LISTEN TO - ASCOLTA

Look at the new year 

through a keyhole 

while the wind 

is shuttering the world 

What do I expect 

is to find somewhere 

the right songline 

to follow to die 

so that I can be reborn again 

leaving behind this somber land 

I don’t sing about tomorrow 

cause the future is my fear 

maybe it will be some sorrow 

by now I close my eyelids 

So that I say I can’t see straight 

with my eyes closed 

what can make me afraid 

Is this the only real way 

to have some hope into 

this mess not to stay 

I am arrived 

to a no return point 

where it can’t be 

enough a simple choice 

to come back where 

there is still my voice 

and I can stop 

to hum behind the noise 

My praise goes to the one out there 

that can give me a truthful hand 

I don’t sing about tomorrow 

cause the future is my fear 

maybe it will be some sorrow 

by now I close my eyelids 

So that I say I can’t see straight 

with my eyes closed 

what can make me afraid 

Is this the only real way 

to have some hope 

into this mess not to stay

Wyrd *

 

Dalla finestra a sud

la ragnatela del tempo *

cullata dal vento

di un ovest sconsolato

dal muro agli alberi

dal mio corpo al cielo

in attesa che si compia

dell'inverno il destino. 

* il riferimento è all'antico concetto anglosassone di "Wyrd", la rete che collega ogni elemento ed ogni creatura dell'universo, e non conosce distinzioni tra passato e futuro.

Fuoco immenso

 

Che fuoco immenso

il sole

falò intergalattico

di rubino e agata

di anime radiose 

come fascine eterne

di sapienza avvampate * 

Disteso su rovine

di terrena esistenza 

ascolto il calore

che sussurra eternità.  

* Secondo la Divina commedia, nel Cantico del Paradiso, nel Quarto Cielo (quello del Sole), ci sono gli spiriti sapienti