Travellers

Abstract

Leased Fernanda Romagnoli Possible? I rented existence. I wanted topossessit- butthepurchase required patience, notrage. That's whymywindows lookonto where thebuilder openedthem, notI:sointhedistance, overthecourtyard, I torment mygaze with a teeming ofseas orforests. Andtheincomplete furnishing reddens atmyback, inthis room towards sunset. Andthedoor's notevenmine that I lockatnight: though nothing I possess attracts thieves. AndI'llmyself open, atanunforeseen hour, tothelandlord when- courteous, immoveable - hecomes, theexpired leaseinhispocket. 1980 Translation from the Italian ByPeter Robinson Travellers LucianoErba It'sa dayofwhite plumes ofsmoke stamped onthesky from a windthat brings snow andreddens priests' hands it'sa meadowa bitbeyond town amongthings inuseordisuse among houseswith nobalconies anda railway track's margin there they drymany bedsheets with clothes ofdifferent hues from violet topalestrose there alongside mytrain runs I notedown:washing onthelines plusother womanly signs 1989 Translation from the Italian ByPeter Robinson Fernanda Romagnoli (1916-86) was born and died inRome. She was the wife of anarmy officer andlived in various parts of Italy, following her husband's postings, until the1960s. Shesuffered from illhealth inlater life. Herpublications areCapriccio (1943), Berretto rosso (1965), Confiteor (1973), IItredicesimo invitato (1980), Mar Rosso (1997), andher complete poetry, IItredicesimo invitato ealtre poesie (2003). "In affitto," the poem translated here, isfrom II tredicesimo invitato (1 980). Luciano Erba (1922-2010) was born inMilan, where, with theexception ofbrief periods inSwitzerland, France, andtheUnited States, he lived for most ofhis life. Heworked as a professor of French literature andpublished translations of Reverdy, Cendrars, and Frenaud, among others. Erba's poetry iscollected inPoesie 1951-2001 (2002) andRemi inbarca (2006). PrincetonUniversity Press published The Greener Meadow: Selected Poems of Luciano Erba (2007), translated by Peter Robinson. "Viaggiatori," the uncollected poem published here, is from L'hippopotamo (1989). Peter Robinson (b.1953)is Professor ofEnglish andAmerican Literature atthe University ofReading (UK). Among hismany volumes of poetry, translation andliterary criticism areSelected Poems (2003), The Look ofGoodbye: Poems 2001-2006 (2008), Selected Poetry andProse of Vittorio Sereni (2006), The Greener Meadow: Selected Poems ofLuciano Erba (2007), winner ofthe John Florio Prize, Poetry 81 Translation: The Art of the Impossible (2010), and Antonia Pozzi, Poems (201 1). JulyAugust 201 1139 ...