Luciano Erba
from Railway Suite
1942
Robinia hedge
following the tracks
I leave you my thoughts
on your thin, green leaves.
On the train that carries me
quickly at this sunset hour
I was thinking of my poor
marvellous destiny
of the walk
I don’t know if I’ll make.
But your green thread goes with me, now
I look at it
and the weary countryside:
just so often flee
dreams and visions of my journey.
1943
I was reading in the eyes of servants
my destiny my sure condemnation
in the mountains I would go
hiking boots and overcoat
I was wanting to flee
Italy and Salò.
1944
You’re in the Jura and look from the train
at the convent among the beech trees
who’s at prayer? the turn-box nun
or the boy heading for the frontier?
Robinia hedge
following the tracks
I leave you my thoughts
on your thin, green leaves.
On the train that carries me
quickly at this sunset hour
I was thinking of my poor
marvellous destiny
of the walk
I don’t know if I’ll make.
But your green thread goes with me, now
I look at it
and the weary countryside:
just so often flee
dreams and visions of my journey.
1943
I was reading in the eyes of servants
my destiny my sure condemnation
in the mountains I would go
hiking boots and overcoat
I was wanting to flee
Italy and Salò.
1944
You’re in the Jura and look from the train
at the convent among the beech trees
who’s at prayer? the turn-box nun
or the boy heading for the frontier?
Translated by Peter Robinson
Page(s) 66-67
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