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La riva bianca, la riva nera

Iva Zanicchi
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English version by Ugo Novocomensis
LA RÌVA BIÀNCA LA RÌVA NÉRA

Oh sciùr capitàni ferméves ché -
-E sùnt tàntu stràcch, mé se fèrmi sé -
-Atènt che spàren, stii mia in pee.-
- E stoo atènt, ma ripàres anca té. -

-Dèmm un poo, suldaa, té de chi te seet? -
- E sùnt d’un paés lé derènt de lüü,
però söl fiömm la pàsa la fruntéra,
la rìva biànca la rìva néra,*
desuravìa del pùnt e védi una bandéra,
ma l’è mia quèla che gh’è dènt in del mè cör.-

-Té suldaa alùra te seet mia di mee?-
- Gh’hoo sö un’óltra divìsa, el le sa anca lüü. -
- No, el soo mia, perché ghe védi pö,
- M’hann cataa e fòrzi te seet staa té.-

-Sciùr capitàni, ‘se vöret mai fà?
‘sta ché l’è la guèra la poe mia cambià.
D’in sciömm del brécch la cànta la mitràja
E l’èrba vérda la divènta pàja,
a adree al fiömm la püséga la batàja,
ma per nömm düü l’è gemò finìda uramàj.-

- Sciûr capitàni, mé gh’hoo de nà.-
- Vègni anca mé cùnt té, te poe mia lasàm.-
-No, te lasaroo mia ché, mé ‘l soo gemò,
restaroo derènt de té per l’eternitaa.-

L’è finii tüscóss, fa cìtu la fruntéra,
la rìva biànca la rìva néra,*
intànt che una dòna la piàncc in de la sera **
e la ciàma un nòm che mai el respundarà.

-Oh sciûr capitàni ferméves ché -
-E sùnt tàntu stràcch, mé se fèrmi sé -
THE WHITE SHORE, THE BLACK SHORE

* Captain! Please Sir, stop here!

- I'm so tired. Yes, I'll stop.

* Be careful! They're firing! Stay down!

- I'll be careful, but protect yourself too. Tell me, soldier, where are you from?

* I come from a village near yours, but on the river there is the border, the white shore, the black shore, and on the bridge I see a flag, but it's not that which is in my heart.

- So, soldier, you are not one of mine...

* We are wearing different uniforms, as you know.

- No, I don't know it, as I can no longer see. I was shut and perhaps you fired at me.

* Captain, what can we do? This is war and it may not change.

- On the hill there sings the machinegun, the green grass turns to straw and along the river the battle continues, but for us it has already ended.

* Captain, I have to go.
- I'm coming with you. You must not leave me.

* No, I will not leave you. I already know it, I'll be close to you forever.

-- All is over, the border is silent, the white shore and the black shore, while a woman weeps in the evening and calls a name that will never reply.

* Captain! Please Sir, stop here!

- I'm so tired. Yes, I'll stop.

* in brianzolo si dìce négra,
** in brianzolo si dice sìra,
ho usato parole “straniere” per la rima


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