Poem

Giampiero Neri

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Original language

Of those uncertain shadows

Of those uncertain shadows
of names to which they were matched
time has cancelled the memory.
Like stones flung over waters 
that sink after their brief run, 
those shapes receded into the distance
and vanished into the transparent air.

© Translation: 2009, Ron Banerjee
From: Natural Theater. Selected Poems 1976–2009 by Giampiero Neri
Publisher: Chelsea Editions, New York, 2009

Of those uncertain shadows

De namen die behoorden bij
die vage schimmen waren
door de tijd uit het geheugen gewist.
Als steentjes die over het water zeilen
en na een korte afstand zinken
verwijderden zich de gestalten en
verdwenen in de transparante lucht.

© Vertaling: 2011, Ike Cialona
Publisher: 2011, First published on PIW,

Di quelle vaghe ombre
dei nomi cui corrispondevano
il tempo cancellava la memoria.
Come sassi lanciati sull’acqua
che affondano dopo breve corsa
le figure si allontanavano
svanivano nell’aria trasparente.

© 2004, Giampiero Neri
From: Armi e mestieri
Publisher: Mondadori, Milan

Giampiero Neri

Giampiero Neri

Giampiero Neri (the pseudonym of Giampietro Pontiggia) was born in Erba, in the province of Como, in 1927. He lives in Milan. His life has been marked by tragic events – the death of his father, who was killed when Giampiero was sixteen, the suicide of a sister in her twenties – which appear, however, only indirectly in his poetry. A bank employee, he has cultivated entomological and literary i...

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Where would Don Rodrigo’s mansion be located

That pastry and coffee house in Como

NATURE

A NOTE FROM 1926

TWO TIMES

FRESHWATER FISH

MIMESIS

BOTANICAL VARIETY

BOREALIS

Of those uncertain shadows

Close

Of those uncertain shadows

Of those uncertain shadows
of names to which they were matched
time has cancelled the memory.
Like stones flung over waters 
that sink after their brief run, 
those shapes receded into the distance
and vanished into the transparent air.

© 2009, Ron Banerjee
From: Natural Theater. Selected Poems 1976–2009 by Giampiero Neri
Publisher: 2009, Chelsea Editions, New York

Of those uncertain shadows

Of those uncertain shadows
of names to which they were matched
time has cancelled the memory.
Like stones flung over waters 
that sink after their brief run, 
those shapes receded into the distance
and vanished into the transparent air.

© 2009, Ron Banerjee
From: Natural Theater. Selected Poems 1976–2009 by Giampiero Neri
Publisher: 2009, Chelsea Editions, New York

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