BREATH OF AUTUMN (NON LO SO)

THE POEM - BREATH OF AUTUMN (NON LO SO)

You can listen to the poem as a song for free at: http://www.myspace.com/DaveSummersMusic

This poem is almost two poems in one and is full of autumnal imagery and metaphor.

For those who don't speak Italian, here are some crucial translations to aid in your understanding of the poem.

Ma perché? Non lo so. = But why? I don't know.

Chi sa come? = Who knows how?

Chi sa dov'è? = Who knows where she is?

Chi sa perché?= Who knows why?

BREATH OF AUTUMN (NON LO SO)

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Main Voice

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She left in the morning,

Spells undone.

Late summer mist clearing,

In a breath of autumn.

Each dawn has a lesson for us,

But most seem to have no want to know.

Ma perché? Non lo so.

Yesterday's promise,

Grew in the sun.

Its dry leaves now scattered,

In a breath of autumn.

They're lost in a carpet of gold,

Of dead wishes that never can grow.

Ma perché? Non lo so.

Chi sa come?

Chi sa dov'è?

Chi sa perché?

Non lo so, non lo so.

August plans wasted,

Left undone.

Sandcastles crumble,

In a breath of autumn.

Candyfloss memories of fairgrounds and stalls,

And the calls to rollup for the show.

Ma perché? Non lo so.

Chi sa come?

Chi sa dov'è?

Chi sa perché?

Non lo so, non lo so.

Stare at blank paper,

Words just come.

Brought to the new page,

In a breath of autumn.

Like the young robin who's now learned a song,

He will soon sing alone in the snow.

Ma perché? Non lo so.

Io amo l'autunno

Ma perché? Non lo so.

Second Voice

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She, in the twilight is gone.

In one moment it's over.

Inner void,

In a breath of autumn.

Each dawn has a lesson for us,

But most seem to have no want to know.

Ma perché? Non lo so.

"Yes" is a word of my dreams.

In one moment they're fallen,

In a swirl,

In a breath of autumn.

They're lost in a carpet of gold,

Of dead wishes that never can grow.

Ma perché? Non lo so.

Forest rusts stained by the maple blood,

Bleeding, unveiling the naked bough.

Frenzy, then stillness returns.

Non lo so, non lo so.

All summer long there was hope.

Dunes will move when the winds change.

In a breeze,

In a breath of autumn.

Candyfloss memories of fairgrounds and stalls,

And the calls to rollup for the show.

Ma perché? Non lo so.

Victims and victors in silken wheels.

Dancers on tightropes, tween hip and sloe.

Frenzy, then stillness returns.

Non lo so, non lo so.

Stare at the view in each drop,

Of the dew on each apple.

Inner world,

In a breath of autumn.

Like the young robin who's now learned a song,

He will soon sing alone in the snow.

Ma perché? Non lo so.

Ma perché? Non lo so.

© Dave Summers, Wiltshire, England,

September 2008.