DREAMS OF THE RETURN.

We often discuss the marketing of books in our biweekly feature, You Wrote It. Now Sell It. This week we’re taking a closer look at one of the books we’ve produced to give you a glimpse into the incredible work being created by the authors at our poetry imprint, Old Scratch Press. In the first installment of this new video series, Di will be spotlighting Alan Bern’s DREAMS OF THE RETURN, a heartfelt love letter to Italy told in prose, poems, and photos. Relax with a glass or two of Etna Bianco as Di discusses Alan’s book and even reads a few of the works found within its many pages.

Dreams of the Return—Beyond poetry

DREAMS OF THE RETURN is more than an average collection of poems. Alan’s admiration for Italy is clearly apparent, and he’s included poetry from great Italian poets in his book. Featured poets include Giacomo Leopardi and Dante Alighieri, and Alan has translated these works into English, making them accessible to non-Italian readers, thus enabling them to experience the majesty of these great works of Italian literature. In addition to great Italian poets and Alan’s own poetry, Alan has written several essays for the book, reflecting on his time spent in Italy, which began in childhood during Alan’s father’s sabbaticals from teaching. An accomplished photographer, Alan has peppered the book with a variety of color and black & white images of his beloved Italy to bring further life to the writing.

Below is an excerpt from DREAMS OF THE RETURN. It features the Final section of “Cantico di Frate Sole” or “Cantico delle Creature” by San Francesco d’Assisi. Alan’s English translation appears first, followed by the original Italian language version….

Praised be for our Sister Mother Earth
who sustains and watches over us
and produces diverse fruits with colored flowers and with herbs.
Praised be for those who forgive with love
and for those who bear illness and tribulations.
Blessed be those who bear it all with patience
for they will be crowned with peace.
Praised be for our Sister of Bodily Death
from whom no one escapes alive:
troubles to those who die unreconciled;
blessed be those who die in sacred peace
for they will not be haunted, nor will they haunt.
Praises and blessings, all,
let us give thanks and serve each the other with respect
and with great humility.

Laudato si’, mi’ Signore, per sora nostra matre Terra,
la quale ne sustenta et governa,
et produce diversi fructi con coloriti flori et herba.
Laudato si’, mi Signore, per quelli che perdonano per lo Tuo amore
et sostengono infirmitate et tribulatione.
Beati quelli ke ‘l sosterranno in pace,
ka da Te, Altissimo, sirano incoronati.
Laudato si’ mi Signore, per sora nostra Morte corporale,
da la quale nullu homo vivente po’ skappare:
guai a quelli ke morrano ne le peccata mortali;
beati quelli ke trovarà ne le Tue sanctissime voluntati,
ka la morte secunda no ‘l farrà male.
Laudate et benedicete mi signore,
et rengratiate et serviateli cun grande humilitate.

That’s all for now. Until next time, arrivederci amici!