U mort, 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.
U mort by Albino Pierro
U mort
a Ernesto de Martino
Apprime, a lu paise,
si cièrete nu mort,
ll’accumpagnàite ‘a banda
e Dumìniche u Cumme cch’i rastre11e.
M’è rumèse nd’ ‘a ‘ricchie
u sóne d’u bumbardine
tagghiète ntrunc come da n’accètte
da “u nzùmmete” d’i piattine
ca s’allungaite trimuànne a chiange
nd’i vocicèlle ianchc d’i clarine.
Mó tutt cose è cangète,
nun mporte si duce duce,
ma ci su’ sempe i prèvete
e u sacristène cc’ ‘a cruce
appresse a na fihéra di uagnune
ca le rèjene mbrazze ‘a cronicelle
di ferre ngiallanute com’ ‘a lune.
Le pòrtene u taùte supr’i muscke
e arruzzuuìne i pére d’i zaccuèe,
cchi ttacce e suprattacce, com’a cchiumme
ti pàrete ca pàssene i vitture
ca vène fóre, ‘a notte, quanne chiòvete
e ca scìppene, com’a piscunète,
da u sonne, chille pòure signure.
