Il diavolo azzurro, di famiglia nobile
by Francesca PellegrinoEra un grand’uomo, lui
c’è da dirlo. Impettito di tutto spillo e
mi portava a spasso al braccio
sempre che io non parlassi troppo
o troppo poco. Potevo fare pipì
ma solo se non avevo esagerato
a saziare la sete. E l’amore sulle unghie.
E potevo baciarlo
solo se asciugavo bene bene
la bocca coi silenzi
respirando il giusto, senza
esagerare, come stare con l’anima
in mezzo ai ferri—stretta di morsa stretta
la lingua. Che neanche una preghiera
si poteva. Neanche una preghiera.
Era un grand’uomo. Davvero davvero
lui, che si pettinava i capelli
all’ultimo grido mio, per ore e ore e ore.
E poi, una cosa buona, anzi due,
la fece una sera, quando andò via,
brav’uomo, lui
che aveva altre fiche da marcire
senza dimenticare lasciarmi il figlioamoremio
e prendere lo shampoo.
PrinceHarming, of noble origins
by Francesca PellegrinoHe was a very important man, he was,
no two ways about it. Walking tall, slim,
and he always ushered me around by the arm
provided I didn’t talk too much
or too little. I was permitted to pee but only if
I hadn’t exaggerated
satiating thirst. And love
on the fingernails. And I could kiss him
only if I dried my mouth
very well with silences
breathing appropriately
without exaggerating, like having the soul
in fetters—tongue cinched
with cinched grip. Not even a plea was allowed.
Not even a plea. He was a very important man. Really
and truly. Really he was. He would comb his hair
in the latest crazy craze, for hour upon hour upon hour.
And then, one good thing, two, actually
one evening, he did this, when he went away,
he was a good man,
who had other cunts to let rot
without forgetting to leave me
the sonloveofmylife and take the shampoo.
translated from Italian by Adria Bernardi