Translation:Lament I. (of Laments upon the Tiber)


 * (dedicated to Celina).

In the mountains of Campania hatched oh Tiber Where do you roll the cloudy currents of the quiet springs? Do you dream of smashed Hydra of centuries? Swimming between rubbles and debris ... Your memories Are a stream of tears, blood, crime and virtues – without a name!

In garlands of flowers between the banks of ruins You roll eternal and cloudy waves And watery snows of the Apennines You take, as history of pride, in the sun of truth To nothing - melted! So its flow, towards eternity, the end of the oceans!

I stood under a Roman aqueduct in silence; In the distance, the tomb of Cecilia Metella shone, Nobody hears Rome on via Appia, In the cave of Egeria, birds have the council Spider in the distaff, Through the broken columns the streams are sobbing!

How the eye can see [through] the waves of desert, Debris pile up everywhere, outdo each other, And among the Campania, Rome shines in the distance, And rings the flocks, endlessly scattered – There! bells are playing Among herds stick out statues buried to the chest!

O Rome! Rome! murderess of peoples You be a monument of the resurrection of the peoples! O Rome! own skeleton blames you, Damned your actions until end of the days! From the ruins of the temple I see how there the sun of your glory setting in a blood!

At night, I asked catacombs about the glory The drops which fall from boulders onto boulders I greeted the triumph of the will in captivity! And from via Appia I took (at the ruins) illusions Which fall A little flower... which today was brought by the toils of so many centuries ...

Over there! on the ruins of the Caracalla Baths Which are like a horrible mammoths of Rome, There where they trod in tears and pearls The stars of freedom I have seen rising, And from corals of blood Rose the bright to millions, the sun of Christianity...

Where the Caesar house was torn in crumbs At the Colosseum I sat down in reflection, The chains of gladiators fell silent And from the crumbs of shakles – the seeds of freedom They sowed on the pride And she rose – spreads [her] arms over humanity!

In the distance – on the sands I saw this mountain Which Master Angelo covered Peter's rock I called “The Last Judgment” as a witness! ... O! Holy Spirit! dove of captivity Get out! White wing Take from the female Eagle!.. and stand up from what hurts us !.