A Dream of Summer

(after Giosue Carducci)

I dreamed of gentle things. My freshman year, 
a room where sun poured in, freedom from books, 
the thundering carts on cobbles in the via, 
a wreath of sorghum round my neck. To look 

out from my window was unbroken joy: 
one way those flower-carpeted old hills, 
the other, sparkling shoreline: still a boy, 
I splashed out on a suit, and shirts with frills! 

I'll never know that animal verve again. 
I'm sure that glittering sea, those slumbering isles, 
were not like now, prosaic. And summer rain, 
I swear, on mornings when it caught me, smiled.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2017

Poem

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Vinson Avatar
March 11, 2017 at 10:09 PM
Good thoughts, Michael. : )
Coy Avatar
March 12, 2017 at 1:46 AM
Thank you so much, Doug!
White Avatar
March 11, 2017 at 10:30 AM
You'll have to save me, for I cannot find the original, I failed :( .... And I do not like that. I didn't know this poet, and I so much wanted to see how you translated, because I so love doing that. It's how I learn.... It's just so beautiful, and it's the beach and the sea that hold so much meaning for me. I love this poem, so very much.
Coy Avatar
March 12, 2017 at 1:56 AM
It's so strange ... I can't find it, either! I'll keep looking.
White Avatar
March 11, 2017 at 11:37 AM
Let's just say: in searching, I now have read about 10 of his poems in Italian, and 5 translations LOL, but haven't found what I was looking for!
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