ITALIAN POETRY/IL PRIMO SETTEMBRE/SEPTEMBER FIRST by Luciano Somma

ITALIAN POETRY / IL PRIMO SETTEMBRE / 
SEPTEMBER FIRST by Luciano Somma

On this last day of August and the eve of autumn, I felt it appropriate
 to share the poem: SEPTEMBER FIRST written by
 Luciano Somma.  As in all of Luciano’s poetry, we feel
 the sentimental spirit of one of Italy’s foremost poets. You can find
Luciano Somma at:

http://www.partecipiamo.it/Poesie/Luciano_Somma/1.htm

http://www.scolastica2000.it/MUSICALMENTE/somma/somma.htm  

Quality giclee prints of the above painting: Fall in New England  
can be purchased at: 
 http://pamela-allegretto.fineartamerica.com

In quest’ultimo giorno d’agosto e la vigilia d’autunno,
ho sentito che era adatto offrire la poema
IL PRIMO SETTEMBRE 
 scritto di Luciano Somma.  Come tutte delle sue poesie,
 sentiamo lo spirito sentimentale d’un poeta molto noto
in Italia. Si può trovare Luciano Somma a:

http://www.partecipiamo.it/Poesie/Luciano_Somma/1.htm

http://www.scolastica2000.it/MUSICALMENTE/somma/somma.htm  

Si puo` comprare dell stampe di giclee del quadro in alto: 

 Fall in New England a: 
 http://pamela-allegretto.fineartamerica.com

 

IL PRIMO SETTEMBRE

L’ultimo sogno d’Agosto                     

Si sveglia col primo Settembre,                  

questa sera è un incanto!                       

Il cielo è amaranto, uno spiffero di vento           

dolce come la carezza d’un bene                                                        

amaro come il fiele del pianto                          

mi porta una ciurma di pensieri                       

Che affollano la mente 

e mettono in croce questo cuore.              

Vorrei che piovesse e non piove…                                                    

Vorrei tante nuvole intorno                                                                                                                                    

ma la luna è d’argento                                    .

Vorrei che un sogno tornasse                      

ma il sogno non torna.  

Questo sogno è partito

sulle onde                    

dell’ultima sera d’Agosto                     

lasciandomi                 

un grappolo di stelle     

lassù nel cielo amaranto

in questa sera incantata

del primo Settembre.      

Luciano Somma

SEPTEMBER FIRST

The last dream of August

awakens with the first of September,

this evening is enchantment!

The sky bleeds red and purple, a light breeze

soft like a lover’s caress                         

bitter like malicious words

brings me a crew of thoughts

that crowd my mind

and crucify this heart.

I wish it were raining and not rain…             

I’d like a cloud-filled sky                                                                                                      

yet view a silver moon.

I wish the dream was ending

But the dream doesn’t end.

This dream has departed

on the waves

of the final August evening

leaving me

a cluster of stars

far-off in the bleeding sky

in this enchanted evening

of September first.

Pamela Allegretto Franz (translation)

PAINTING IN ITALY / TUSCANY / FLORENCE / FIESOLE

About a 25-minute drive from Piazza San Marco in Florence will take you to the hill town of Fiesole. As you take this panoramic drive you’ll pass fountains, statuary, and lush gardens. If you prefer to not drive, you can take the #7. However, if you take the bus, you won’t be able to pull off along the way and sketch the amazing views, which I highly recommend. Piazza Mino da Fiesole, Fiesole’s main square, is a great place to sit and have an espresso or sip Campari while you sketch the ochre-colored buildings with their charming green shutters. Character studies abound as visitors from around the world gather in this little slice of heaven.
When you’re ready for a short but steep hike, take Via San Francesco, which parallels a terrace that offers a show-stopping view of Florence. At the end of the goat trail, you’ll reach the Convent of San Francesco and the church of Sant’Alessandro. From behind the churches there is an idea spot to set up and paint another grandstand view of Florence. Do take a break from painting to visit the two churches, where you’ll find works by Piero di Cosimo and some gorgeous marmorino cipollino (onion marble) columns. From the front of San Francesco go through the gate that opens into a charming, wooded public park that makes for an enjoyable descent back to Piazza Mino. If you’re a nature painter, you’ll want to set up for a while in this delightful locale.
Back in the main part of town beyond the Duomo, in Via Marini you’ll find the entrance to the Teatro Romano. Built in the first century BC, this amphitheater is equipped to seat three thousand spectators. It was excavated at the end of the last century and is in such a good state of repair that it’s used for various theatrical and musical performances. As you arrive at the theater, you are at the top looking down onto the stage. Also from these upper seats there are views that beg to be painted. It’s an ideal spot to easily set up and paint the theater stage and the panorama behind it. Can you imagine anything much more remarkable than sitting in the same seat as Roman spectators sat over 2,000 years ago and drawing or painting the same view they witnessed? Okay, so maybe the trees have grown a bit higher on the distant hills during these past 2,000 years, but let’s not allow trivial details to spoil the mood.
Take time for a picturesque stroll to the outskirts of Fiesole and wander down the narrow Via Vecchia Fiesolana to the hamlet of San Domenico. This is another “must stop to paint” location, not only for it’s charm and amazing views, but also the local folks love artists who venture outside Florence to paint its environs. You will no sooner open your sketchpad or set up your easel, than a mini crowd will form to see what has caught your fancy. No matter what you have decided upon, there will be at least four or five other opinions on what you should have chosen. It’s always all in good fun and offers of wine, soda, water, cheese, panini, and etc. will no doubt abound. You may not get much painted, but you will have a wonderfully memorable experience.
Buon Viaggio!