Ru Ritorn Aru Puaies

Appena arriv a Santa Maria Nea
dopp sagliuta chella serpentinia'
t sient abbrividi d na manera
cu t s fa la pell d gaglinia.

"Eccu ru Uall" die, ipo t'assied
a nu murigli tutt scarrupuat',
p la mbression nun puo cchiu scta mpied
nun t'assacrid ca si riturnat.

Te par mo ca tant'ann passat
giriann i riggiriann pe sctu munn,
d botta ve tutt cancellat,
com t riscvigliass da nusuonn.

Ru pausiegli par ca t'aspetta
ma senza fa fescta, senza fa muinia.
par ca dic figli nun da retta
a scti scarrup i a tutta scta ruinia.

E ti ricev cu tutt gli'affett'
senza fa cunt ca mi si lassat
i so cuntient ca si dat retta
aru pinzier cu t'e ripurtat.

Trasm dent, i sii ru benmenut
da ru girion alia preta marozza,
giria scti' luocu da ddonnsi crisciut,
da ri muzzun o da sott a la chiazza.

Ogni canton d set mura anticu,
tiparla de cuann iev guaglinciegli,
d pazziell fatt p scti' vicu,
nzegna cu tutt gli'autr curnpagniegli.

T parla d I fesct paisan,
scta'criesia veccbia da pocu ianchiata,
i t rporta aru tiemp luntan,
cuann p prim sctiett vattiat.

£ nun so riccu ichess lu I sai,
ma a ted seta bell 'aria face don,
dsct'acquafresca cu nz'assecca mai,
dsct muntagnn cu mfau curona.

Chesct tre cos t sian d cumfort,
L'ARIA, LMUNTAGN, L'ACQUAPURA,
chesct n cagnan sicund la sort,
ma sctau semp ecca azzi' cu terra dura.

R patt seta fatt tra me' i la natura,
ca teu da ess semp cusctudit,
cu tutt'amor i cu tutta la cura
p vioua cuann dall'ester minit.

Domenico Muccio

The Return to the Native Town

As soon as you turn "SANTA MARIA'NNEA", After climbing that serpentine road,
You are pervaded by such a shiver,
As to get goose pimples.

Here is "Ru Wall" you say and then you sit Upon a wall with the spall of age.
The shock is such that you cannot stand up, You can't believe that you have returned.

It now seems that all the years gone by, Peregrinating all around the world,
Suddenly vanish from the mind,
As if waken from a deep sleep.

The little town seems to be waiting,
Without fanfare, in deep meditation.
It seems to say, "Son don't mind
The scars of time and some decay."

"I will receive you with all the affection,
Forgetting even that you left me once,
And I'm glad that you did listen
To the thought that prompted your return.

Please enter and be most welcome
From the Girone to Pretamarozza,
Check all the places where you grew up in, From the Mozzuni to the town's Piazza.

Every corner of these ancient walls
Speaks to you of your childhood days,
Of games played'in the neighborhoods Together with all your little friends.

It also speaks of the town's feasts
This old church recently restored,
And brings you back to the old times
When in it you were first baptized."

"I'm not rich, as so well you know,
But of this fresh air I make you a gift.
Of this sparkling water that never goes dry, Of these mountains, my beloved crown.

These three things be of comfort to you,
The air, the mountains and the pure water,
They are not quick to change
And will endure till man's help endures.

A pact is made between me and nature
That they will be always looked after
With all the love and with the utmost care
For you to enjoy upon your return.

Domenico Muccio