Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Valerio Magrelli

Che la materia provochi il contagio

That matter can provoke contagion
if touched in its inmost fibers
ripped like a calf from its mother
like a pig from its own heart
screeching at the sight of its yanked organs;

That such a rupture can generate
the same wildfire energy that spreads
when society is torn, holy veil of the temple,
and the king\'s head falls, severed from the body of the state
so that the thaumaturge becomes the wound;

That the hearth\'s embrace becomes radiation
bonfire of nature decomposing
helpless before the smiles of bystanders
making for only the slightest increase
in room temperature;

That the form of every production
implies effraction, fission, a farewell
and that history is but the act of combustion
and Earth a tender pile of firewood
left out to dry in the sun,

is incredible, isn\'t it?

Che la materia provochi il contagio

Che la materia provochi il contagio
se toccata nelle sue fibre ultime
recisa come il vitello dalla madre
come il maiale dal proprio cuore
stridendo nel vedere le sue membra strappate;

Che tale schianto generi
la stessa energia che divampa
quando la società si lacera, sacro velo del tempio
e la testa del re cade spiccata dal corpo dello stato
affinché il taumaturgo diventi la ferita;

Che l\'abbraccio del focolare sia radiazione
rogo della natura che si disgrega
inerme davanti al sorriso degli astanti
per offrire un lievissimo aumento
della temperatura ambientale;

Che la forma di ogni produzione
implichi effrazione, scissione, un addio
e la storia sia l\'atto del combùrere
e la Terra una tenera catasta di legname
messa a asciugare al sole,

è incredibile, no?
Close

Che la materia provochi il contagio

That matter can provoke contagion
if touched in its inmost fibers
ripped like a calf from its mother
like a pig from its own heart
screeching at the sight of its yanked organs;

That such a rupture can generate
the same wildfire energy that spreads
when society is torn, holy veil of the temple,
and the king\'s head falls, severed from the body of the state
so that the thaumaturge becomes the wound;

That the hearth\'s embrace becomes radiation
bonfire of nature decomposing
helpless before the smiles of bystanders
making for only the slightest increase
in room temperature;

That the form of every production
implies effraction, fission, a farewell
and that history is but the act of combustion
and Earth a tender pile of firewood
left out to dry in the sun,

is incredible, isn\'t it?

Che la materia provochi il contagio

That matter can provoke contagion
if touched in its inmost fibers
ripped like a calf from its mother
like a pig from its own heart
screeching at the sight of its yanked organs;

That such a rupture can generate
the same wildfire energy that spreads
when society is torn, holy veil of the temple,
and the king\'s head falls, severed from the body of the state
so that the thaumaturge becomes the wound;

That the hearth\'s embrace becomes radiation
bonfire of nature decomposing
helpless before the smiles of bystanders
making for only the slightest increase
in room temperature;

That the form of every production
implies effraction, fission, a farewell
and that history is but the act of combustion
and Earth a tender pile of firewood
left out to dry in the sun,

is incredible, isn\'t it?
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