Three Persian Poems

Song Cycle by Francesco Santoliquido (1883 - 1971)

View original-language texts alone: Tre poesie persiane

1.
 (Sung text)
Language: Italian (Italiano) 
Quando le domandai
La causa della nostra lontananza,
Essa mi rispose: te lo dirò.
Io sono il tuo occhio, e sono la tua anima.
Perchè ti sorprendi se tu non mi vedi?
Dimmi: chi ha mai potuto vedere l'anima?
Dimmi? Dimmi?

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  • by Anonymous / Unidentified Author

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1. When I asked
Language: English 
 When I asked
 the reason for our distance,
 she responded, "I will tell you:
 I am your eyes, I am your soul.
 Why does it surprise you that you do not see me?
 Tell me, is one ever able to see the soul?
 Tell me.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from Italian (Italiano) to English copyright © by Ava De Lara, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you must ask the copyright-holder(s) directly for permission. If you receive no response, you must consider it a refusal.

    Ava De Lara. We have no current contact information for the copyright-holder.
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This text was added to the website: 2003-10-19
Line count: 7
Word count: 46

Translation © by Ava De Lara
2.
 (Sung text)
Language: Italian (Italiano) 
Io mi levai dal centro della Terra,
A traverso la settima porta,
E m'assisi sul trono di Saturno.
E molti Enigmi divinai nel cammino.
Ma non l'Enigma della morte umana,
Nè quello del destino.

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  • by Anonymous / Unidentified Author

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2. I am lifted from the center of the earth
Language: English 
I am lifted from the center of the earth,
across the seventh door,
and present myself at the throne of Saturn.
I answer many enigmas on the journey,
but not the enigma of human death
nor that of destiny.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from Italian (Italiano) to English copyright © by Ava De Lara, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you must ask the copyright-holder(s) directly for permission. If you receive no response, you must consider it a refusal.

    Ava De Lara. We have no current contact information for the copyright-holder.
    If you wish to commission a new translation, please contact:

Based on:

Based on:

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This text was added to the website: 2003-10-19
Line count: 6
Word count: 39

Translation © by Ava De Lara
3.
 (Sung text)
Language: Italian (Italiano) 
Le domandai:
A chi vuoi legare il tuo destino tu così bella?
Essa mi rispose:
A me stessa,
Perchè sono l'unica!
Perchè sono l'amore,
Son l'amante
E l'amata!
Perchè sono lo Specchio,
La Bellezza
E la visione!

Text Authorship:

  • by Anonymous / Unidentified Author

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3.
Language: English 
I asked her:
To whom do you wish to bind your destiny, you [who are] so beautiful?
She replied to me:
To myself,
Because I am the only one!
Because I am love;
I am the lover,
And the beloved!
Because I am the mirror,
Beauty,
And sight!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from Italian (Italiano) to English copyright © 2020 by Garrett Medlock, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
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This text was added to the website: 2020-08-10
Line count: 11
Word count: 48

Translation © by Garrett Medlock