Rondine al Nido – Swallows in the Nest

A Neapolitan Ballad composed by Vincenzo de Crescenzo

swallowsUnder the eaves of the ancient tower
A swallow friend has returned at almond blossom time.
It comes back every year always on the same date;
It crosses mountains and sea to return.
Only love when it flees and goes far away
You hope in vain but it returns no more.
You hope in vain but it returns no more.

In the sweet shadow of the evening passes the spring.
The swallows in flight chirrup, drunk on light and air.
And I am sad and alone;
You do not cross mountains and sea to return.
My little one, you were all my life;
You have fled and return no more.
You have fled and return no more.

Sotto la gronda della torre antica
Una rondine amica,
Allo sbocciar del mandorlo è tornata.
Ritorna tutti gli anni,
Sempre alla stessa data;
Monti e mare essa varca per tornar.
Solo amore
Quando fuggeva lontano
Speri invano ma non torni più.
Speri invano ma non torna più.

swallows-iiNella penombra dolce della sera passa la primavera.
Cinguettano le rondini nel volo,
Ebbre di luce e d’aria.
Ed io son triste e solo;
Monti e mare tu non varchi per tornar.
Mia piccina, fosti tutta la mia vita;
Sei fuggita e non torni più.
Sei fuggita e non torni più.

 

This plaintive song is well presented by the late Maestro Pavarotti. Click on this link to be part of a moment of wonderful music. Here is a recording made during the Three Tenors Concert in Rome 1990.

The Donkey By G. K. Chesterton

Van Gogh
Van Gogh

When fishes flew and forests walked
And figs grew upon thorn,
Some moment when the moon was blood
Then surely I was born.

With monstrous head and sickening cry
And ears like errant wings,
The devil’s walking parody
On all four-footed things.

The tattered outlaw of the earth,
Of ancient crooked will;
Starve, scourge, deride me: I am dumb,
I keep my secret still.

Fools! For I also had my hour;
One far fierce hour and sweet:
There was a shout about my ears,
And palms before my feet.

Donkey of Brown

NarcisettoDonkey of brown please let me know
Why is it that you go so slow?
He turned round gently and to me said
I have some sense in my little brown head.

By hurrying so as you go by
You miss the beauty in earth and sky.
So I took his advice and looked around,
And I saw diamonds in dew drops on the ground.

Daisies that dance in the sun’s golden ray,
Things I missed as I hurried each day.
Gold in the buttercups, clouds in the blue,
What the donkey had said was perfectly true.

By Patricia Higgins