Black Earth (2020)

" Black earth red earth,

you come from the sea,

from the arid green,

where there are ancient

words and bloody toil

and geranium among rocks—

you don't know how much you bring

of toil and words from the sea,

you're rich like a memory,

like the barren countryside,

you hard and sweetest word,

ancient because of the blood

gathered in the eyes;

young, like a fruit

that is a memory and a season—

your breath rests

under the sky of August,

the olives of your look

sweeten the sea,

and you live and live again

without amazement, certain

like the earth, dark

like the earth, a grinder

of seasons and dreams

that reveals itself under the moon

to be so old, just like

the hands of your mother,

the bowl of the brazier. "

 

- Cesare Pavese

Done