Welcome

Many artists dream about painting in Italy. Now, as retiring baby-boomers are increasingly taking up “brush and pallet knife,” more than ever, painting in Italy is the “thing.” Every day, a new “Artist’s” tour of Italy crops up in travel sections of the newspaper and on the Internet. But there still remains a majority of artists who prefer to “go it alone.” They are independent in their artistic styles, and prefer to be independent regarding their travels in Italy . This blog intends to target these free spirited artists who still need guidance to the best places to paint, especially those idyllic gems that are little known and less traveled. Certainly, independent travelers who are not artists will also benefit from this blog.

With a few exceptions, this blog is not a guide to restaurants, lodging, rental cars, or shopping, (except for art supplies.)

Sprinkled among the posts are: my paintings, and a few Italian proverbs and poems written by notable Italian authors for whom I work as a translator.



Please visit my website to view my original art:

http://www.pamelaallegretto-franz.com/

Giclee prints of my paintings, ranging from greeting size to poster size, can be purchased at:

http://pamela-allegretto.fineartamerica.com/



Friday, March 13, 2009

ATTIMO/ MOMENT by Luciano Somma

Until I stumbled into this odd little side gig of translating Italian poetry, my idea of poetry didn’t go much further than: “Roses are red...etc. etc.” Occasionally I read, and reread, and tried to understand some of the poetry written in The New Yorker, but first of all, it didn’t rhyme, so that threw me off, then on many occasions after a third or fourth read I was still asking: “Say What?” I must have snoozed through the poetry segment of English class, because all this free flowing thought was news to me. And now I was being asked to translate it. Fortunately, my first stab at translating Italian poetry was the poem “MOMENT” by Luciano Somma. His imagery of the "sun yawning between clouds and a dove dying in the snow" drew me into the truth that each “moment” in life is merely "a grain of history, a drawing in the wind." Luciano chooses his words carefully and never over-writes. “MOMENT” remains one of my favorites, not only because of its simplicity, imagery, and sensitivity, but also it’s a beautiful reminder of the beginning of a special friendship and collaboration with Luciano Somma. You can find Luciano Somma at: http://www.partecipiamo.it/Poesie/Luciano_Somma/1.htm
http://www.scolastica2000.it/MUSICALMENTE/somma/somma.htm


Una delle prime poesie che ho tradotte è “ATTIMO” di Luciano Somma. Il suo linguaggio figurato del 'sole che sbadiglia tra le nuvole e una colomba che muore nella neve" mi ha fatto capire la verità che ogni “attimo” nella vita "è soltanto un granello di storia, è come un disegni nel vento." Luciano sceglie attentamente ogni parola e non scrive mai troppo prolisso. “ATTIMO” rimane una delle mie preferite, non solo perchè della sua simplicità, linguaggio figurato, e sensibilità, ma anche è un bel ricordo dell’inizio di un’amicizia speciale e collaborazione con Luciano Somma. Si può trovare Luciano Somma a: http://www.partecipiamo.it/Poesie/Luciano_Somma/1.htm
http://www.scolastica2000.it/MUSICALMENTE/somma/somma.htm

ATTIMO

Il sole sbadiglia
tra le nuvole
una colomba muore
nella neve
quest’attimo
granello di storia
strappato all’immensità
`e come un disegno nel vento
`e un pensiero nell’aria
è come una fiammella che violenta
il nero manto dell’oscurita`
intorno è il silenzio
da lontano
giunge solo
un lamento di campana
in agonia.
Luciano Somma


MOMENT

The sun yawns
between the clouds
a dove dies
in the snow
this moment
grain of history
snatched from the vastness
is like a drawing in the wind
it is a thought in the air
like a small flame that assaults
the black coat of obscurity
inside is silence
from far away
rises alone
a bell’s lament
in agony.
Pamela Allegretto Franz (traduzione)

1 comment:

  1. We aloha all your work, and miss u sooo much!Got a kick out of your writing. The blog is a great idea & I hope your getting alot of good attiention!I think I'm going to do a landscape painting of conneticut, some of the photos I took while I was there!Nicki sends her love too!
    christine & nicki

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