Nd a gente ca rirìte, Albino Pierro was a 20th century Italian poet who was twice nominated for the Nobel prize for literature (in 1986 and 1988) despite the relatively narrow nature of his work.
He came from a small town in the south of the country called Tursi and much of his later work was written in the local “Lucan” dialect.
His subject matter seemed to be almost exclusively based on his hometown and when nominated for the award many saw it as a controversial move with some literary critics saying that others were more deserving. His memory is preserved in Tursi with many local festivals and events celebrating his work, yet outside of this region his name is less well known.
Nd a gente ca ririte by Albino Pierro
Nd a gente ca ririte
Nd a gente ca ririte
quanne ti ni scrijàste
i’ére ammuccète com’u fihicèlle
di pàgghie nda na rote atturccigghiète
di nu traìne vruscète
nd’u funne di na drupe.Dasupre, com’a na nùue
a u poste d’i cristiène,
ci s’arraiàite u fume
nd’i scaffittone d’u vente
e u fiète tussicose di nu foche
già ll’óore ni squagghiàite a lu sóue
nda chille ‘ampe fridde di cristalle
d’ ‘a rise ca scattàite cuntente
com’a na battarie di maschètte
e sone di campène.Hann’ ‘a i’èsse cchiù di mill’anne
ca ie mi sente accussì:
come nd’u terramote di nu trene
ca nun arrìvete mèie
ma ca nnatèrne pàssete fiscanne
dasupr’a mmida Un pianto nascosto, 1986
