Autunno italiano / Italian Fall
  • Max2013 October 2012
    Autunno = autumn

    Foglie = leaves

    Colori = colors 

    Funghi = mushrooms

    Castagne = chestnuts

    Now a poem by Giuseppe Ungaretti, one of the most famous Italian writers/poets,

    Si sta come, 
    d'autunno, 
    sugli alberi, 
    le foglie. 

    N.B.: If you are currently depressed or have SAD (Seasonal Adjustment Disorder), do not translate that poem. I will only give you the gist then: our life/existence is as tenuous as trees' Autumn leaves.







  • Giulia November 2012
    Grazie Massimo, e' una poesia bellissima, ma che tristezza!
    Preferisco Ode to the West Wind, anche se e' in Inglese. Does anyone want to attempt at translating this poem into Italian?

    Giulia
  • Giulia November 2012



    Here is the the beginning of the first stanza. Good practice for adjective agreement!
    -Giulia


    O WILD West Wind, thou breath of Autumn's being   Thou from whose unseen presence the leaves dead Are driven like ghosts from an enchanter fleeing,    Yellow, and black, and pale, and hectic red, Pestilence-stricken multitudes!          5  
  • Max2013 November 2012
    Agree. "Pestilence-stricken multitudes" sounds much more optimistic. Wild West? Was not that a show? Ah!

    Mine was a linguistic example not a poetic/content preference. By the way, we can have a debate with students: I believe that tristezza is part of the Italian national gene, regardless of all stereotypes about "sunny people". Any brave soul dares to comment?


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