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from Part IV - The Years after 1945
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 14 March 2018
OMBRE
e il passo inconcreto
è lordo di pene e fatica
Duri zoccoli
avvolgono piaghe profonde
dove il pidocchio pullula
annidato in pezze da piede
OMBRE
goffe figure
allineate da fauci di cani
da urla feroci
Cose ambulanti sull'acciottolato
sopra il fragore di suole legnose
Di lato i gendarmi
sinistra … due … tre … quattro …
cadenzano il passo
che suoni ritmato
lento valzer di morte
OMBRE
aleggia su esse
fantasma luttuoso di gelo
fatto sostanza
LINKS … ZWEI … DREI … VIER …
compagna di danza
oscena puttana avvinghiata
falangi ghiacciate
sfioranti le nuche rapate
LA MORTE
1946SHADOWS
and the impalpable footstep
is heavy with pity and exhaustion
Hard clogs
envelop deep wounds
where the louse roams
nestled in foot rags
SHADOWS
awkward figures
lined up by dog jaws
by savage screams
Objects wandering on the cobblestones
over the clunking of wooden soles
Close by the guards
left … two … three … four
they march in time
to a rhythm
slow waltz of death
SHADOWS
hovering over them
a mournful ghost of frost
made real
LINKS … ZWEI … DREI … VIER …
dance partner
filthy whore clinging
frozen fingers
brushing against shaven napes
DEATH
1946—Translated by Louise HeritageL'esecuzione
Il sangue,
già s'intuisce d'attorno.
O meglio, uomo,
lo senti.
Ritorno all'antico:
oltre gli occhi
la mente si disfa
di tutto.
Dietro,
c’è un muro qualunque;
contro il muro una vita:
più non sarà tra poco.
L'attimo ora
è il suo valore.
Le spalle attendono,
come un imprevisto che non è:
e viene
e in un attimo solo,
quasi impaurita dall'urlo multiplo dei fuochi,
la vita trasvola.
Rimane una spoglia distesa.
Uomo, era il tuo mondo.
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