MARIA A MIRAGLIA

 

Puppets

Sitting on the stone of time

I let the hours go by

slowed I had my pace

crystallized the moment

not to be guided

by the winds

like a dead leaf

but look beyond

 

I told the heart to shut up

and turned on the light of the mind

a brushstroke of grey

turned off the bright colours

of day and night

erased from the sky

shades of pink

nuances of gold and blue

 

Reclined had the flowers

in the fields their corollas

as if united by the same pain

and the cries of the birds

in the skies

weren't of joy

 

Puppets the passers-by

moved by invisible hands

bizarre and stiff the grimaces,

painted in bright colours

on their wooden faces

 

in contrast with their legs

in constant motion

in an attempt to touch the ground

under their feet

 

How sad a sight

I thought to myself

feeling the desire to go back

and opened my eyes to the sunlight

that so much dazzles

and so much it hides

 

The Boatswain

 

Warm is the evening air

but grave the silence

while wanders your thought

to distant times

 

Nothing remains of the boatswain

ready to set sail

and cross the seas

strong the call of distant lands

of exotic sounds and scents

fading are the memories

of the nights

under the starry skies or

stained with dark clouds

of your awakenings

to the cries of the seagulls

 

Old and tired

from your lonely house

you turn now the gaze

where the sky

like a devoted lover

the sea kisses

and sad ask yourself

what you will find

tomorrow or the day after

over that horizon

 

MARIA A MIRAGLIA

 

Dr MARIA A MIRAGLIA is an Italian educationist, bilingual poet, translator, essayist, and ministerial lecturer for English language teachers. For a long time, she has been an active member of Amnesty International and several other peace organizations. She is the Literary Director of the P. Neruda Association and a member of several international editorial boards. The poet has received both national and international recognition and awards. Recently, she was elected a member of the European Academy of Science and Arts of Salzburg. Her latest work is Colourful Butterflies, also edited in her native language.