Lido a Naxos

Lido a Naxos

By Ciro Attardo
 

Chiurriti i occhi
E sentiti u mare, scumazzata e frizzante,
chi vasa l’rina cauru,
cottu du suli,
comu muddica ncapu brodu azzurru.

 

Sentiti u ventu chi sciuscia,

Passanu capu i ficurrini nta muntata,

Frisculianu canzuni siciliani,

Capiddi sciunnuti e carne arrizzati.

 Sentiti u mare
Tronu luntanu;
l’acqua sbatti capu petri timpuliati,
bianchi cu sale mediterraneu.

 Mettiti i pedi nta l’acqua.

A scumazza furriannu i petruddi

catigghiannu i pedi.

A luci curri nta spina

Mizzica chi friddu.

 

Alternate Ending

 

Chiurriti i occhi
U ventu liscia u corpu
comu una manu friddu ncapu n’ iatta stanca.
Sonnati i navi grechi, antici, rancurannu;
Chini cu fimmini menzu nudi
Chi manciannu racina e vivinu vinu duci .

Poi…

Pla-chi-ti, pla-chi- ti, Pla-chi-ti, Pla-chi-ti.

Ti stuvigghi (ruspigghi)…sannali Tidisci.

Ce una puzza di birra nta l’aria,

Vuci strani, peddi bianchi,  e mutanni nici nici ,

Culi di fora

Grassati cu ogghiu,  si votannu nta rina

comu cutuletti nta muddica.

Translation:

Close your eyes
And feel the sea, foamy and sparkling
That kisses the hot sand,
cooked by the sun,
Like toasted bread crumbs and azure broth.

 Hear the blowing wind,
Passing over prickly pears on the hill,
Whistling Sicilian songs;
Disheveled hair and goose bumped skin.

 Listen to the sea.
Distant thunder;
The water smashed against battered rocks
White with Mediterranean salt

Put your feet in the water.
The foam twirls pebbles
Tickling feet,

Electricity runs through the spine
Wow it’s cold

Close your eyes
The wind smooths your body

Like a cool hand on a tired cat.

Dreams of Greek ships, ancient and groaning
Filled with half naked women
Eating grapes and drinking sweet wine

Then…
Pla-chi-ti, Pla-chi-ti, Pla-chi-ti, Pla-chi-ti.
You awake…German sandals!
There is an odor of beer in the air,
strange voices, white skin, and very small briefs, naked asses
Greased with oil, they turn in the sand
Like cutlets in bread crumbs.