Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Roberto Amato

THE INFINITE IS LIKE THIS

The infinite is like this: 
there are only the things I like. 

For example
I like to watch the seagulls on the Arno being transported
from one place to the other
and making their way back simply by inflating their wings and flapping their feet.
Then
I like huge flying libraries and the custodians that hold them
by a thread.
I like tiny cafés
just below the level of the pavement (two or three steps down is enough).
You sit down and I never quite know what to get at first.
The croissants are too glazed
the froth on the cappuccino is not maritime enough.

By the way:

in your opinion are we below sea level?
 
You see
at some other time it would have seemed like such a capital concern.
But now that (I’m not exaggerating) the stars
slip past us like tepid doves
everything else is pretty insignificant.
                                                                                                 
Don’t you think?

THE INFINITE IS LIKE THIS

L’infinito è così:
ci sono solo cose che mi piacciono.

Ad esempio
a me piace vedere i gabbiani sull’Arno che si lasciano trasportare
da un punto all’altro
e ritornano indietro semplicemente gonfiando le ali e battendo i piedi.
Poi
mi piacciono le grandi biblioteche volanti e i custodi che le tengono
per un filo.
Mi piacciono i piccolissimi bar
appena sotto il livello del marciapiede (due o tre scalini bastano).
Tu ti metti seduta e io lì per lì non so mai cosa prendere.
I croissant sono troppo glassati
il cappuccino non ha una schiuma abbastanza marina.

A proposito :

            secondo te siamo sotto il livello del mare?

Vedi
in un altro momento mi sarebbe sembrato un problema capitale.
Ma ora che (non esagero) le stelle
ci scivolano accanto come colombe tiepide
tutto il resto è abbastanza insignificante.

Non credi?  
Close

THE INFINITE IS LIKE THIS

The infinite is like this: 
there are only the things I like. 

For example
I like to watch the seagulls on the Arno being transported
from one place to the other
and making their way back simply by inflating their wings and flapping their feet.
Then
I like huge flying libraries and the custodians that hold them
by a thread.
I like tiny cafés
just below the level of the pavement (two or three steps down is enough).
You sit down and I never quite know what to get at first.
The croissants are too glazed
the froth on the cappuccino is not maritime enough.

By the way:

in your opinion are we below sea level?
 
You see
at some other time it would have seemed like such a capital concern.
But now that (I’m not exaggerating) the stars
slip past us like tepid doves
everything else is pretty insignificant.
                                                                                                 
Don’t you think?

THE INFINITE IS LIKE THIS

The infinite is like this: 
there are only the things I like. 

For example
I like to watch the seagulls on the Arno being transported
from one place to the other
and making their way back simply by inflating their wings and flapping their feet.
Then
I like huge flying libraries and the custodians that hold them
by a thread.
I like tiny cafés
just below the level of the pavement (two or three steps down is enough).
You sit down and I never quite know what to get at first.
The croissants are too glazed
the froth on the cappuccino is not maritime enough.

By the way:

in your opinion are we below sea level?
 
You see
at some other time it would have seemed like such a capital concern.
But now that (I’m not exaggerating) the stars
slip past us like tepid doves
everything else is pretty insignificant.
                                                                                                 
Don’t you think?
Sponsors
Gemeente Rotterdam
Nederlands Letterenfonds
Stichting Van Beuningen Peterich-fonds
Ludo Pieters Gastschrijver Fonds
Lira fonds
Partners
LantarenVenster – Verhalenhuis Belvédère