Nu jurne,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.
Nu jurne by Albino Pierro
Nu jurne
nun vi sapéra dice si nd’u munne
facì fridde o chiuvìte
‘ssìvite nda na botte
‘a ‘uce di menzejurne.
Senze ca le sapìne
i ‘nnammurète si tinìne ‘a mène
e aunìte ci natàine nd’ ‘a rise
ca spànnene i campène d’u paìse.
Nun c’èrene cchiù i scannìje;
si sintìne cchiù llègge di nu sante,
facìn’i sonne d’i vacantìje
cucchète supre ll’èrve e ca lle vìrene
u céhe e na paùmme
ca ci pàssete nnante.Avìne arrivète a lu punte juste:
mó si putìna stringe
si putìna vasè
si putìna ntriccè come nd’u foche
i vampe e com’i pacce
putìna chiange rire e suspirè,
ma nun fècere nente:
stavìne appapagghiète com’ ‘a nive
rusèta d’i muntagne,
quanne càlete u sóue e a tutt’i cose
ni scìppete nu lagne.
