“The geography of melancholy, the 'eternal' in detail”

Foto: Michele Merello

Biography:

Professor of Literature in Secondary School, also teaches at the International Center for Italian Studies at the University of Genoa, from which is the Assistant Director for Education in addition to the courses and Contemporary Italian Literature and Essay Writing. Born in Genoa, where she lives, she contributed to magazines and periodicals, on scientific and journalistic, including "Bacherontius in Santa Margherita Ligure, where the chief is the journalist Marco Delpino, with articles on culture and art as well as talk about issues of culture. Writer and lecturer, explores biographies of historical figures (eg for the online magazine The Tricolore) she is fond of poetry, literature, research on various topics; writes prefaces of books and organizes presentations of books, participates in seminars and conferences. Raffaella Saponaro is 'President of the Italian Institute of Castle, Section Liguria, Onlus. Has the pleasant task of collaborating with the Cultural Association “La Corallina” in Santa Margherita Ligure, where the governor is Dr. Alfredo Bertollo, with history and literature conversations, she is part of the directors thereof. He received his first international prize Franco Delpino, organized by Marco Delpino, Santa Margherita Ligure with the poem "A dream shattered at Christmas," published in the anthology: Christmas: a path of peace. Additional awards were received for her writings by ANPA-BACHERONTIUS. She has held numerous assignments of president for cultural and service clubs.

Critical comment : The vibrant and blazing lyricism of Raffaella Saponaro runs along a mapping system that gives rise to a "geography of melancholy" in the representation on paper of the surface of the soul infused into the landscape and vice versa. The subtlety of this poem is that the author does not force the appearance of the landscape, she doesn’t introduce extra-ordinary items, simply immersed in the ecstasy that she will try. The 'eternal' is enclosed and enhances details, in a harmony of colors and notes, of musical and figurative quality (the tiles ocher, the turgid petals, the rustic tablecloth etc.) that hold in themselves the progress of a dance, the sweetness of a rhythm that becomes docile even in the description of fugastro (fugitive with fear) wolf. Behind the apparent randomness of the impressions, almost disassociated, knocks at the door the emotional element that recreates: the intensity of an emotional connection, a memory with a site that loads each object of invaluable, of significance once again new and re-emerging. Raffaella Saponaro is the daughter of Pascoli's poetic memory no less than that of the object that enhances each image to a further sense, uber in German. Only what the mind can and does provide enriching with secret correspondences and obtaining a tissue of simultaneous sensations of heartbeats of consciousness, an unit that will steal across the total and full of meaning, able to capture all sounds, colors , odors and represent this world of sensations in the suggestion of musical language. (Comment by Cristina Raddavero) Transits and memories surround the poetic iter of Raffaella Saponaro with the delicate colors of thoughts kept in veils of mind as a protective casket of fleeting harmonies and distant images. Moments are captured by coincidence or by daily walks of life bonded into the fabric of existence that know to emerge and suggest timely inspired flashes of poetry: a furtive glance from the window of a moving train, the lions of the museum in Cambridge, the wooded ravines of a river. And here, among these games, always with whispered measure, of words and thoughts, producing a vague similarity of literary references that refer to segments certainly minimalist of Giovanni Pascoli poetic,but, above all, to the musicality composition of the verse, to the research lexical and vision panic by Gabriele D'Annunzio, where man and nature interpenetrate each other to produce lyrical symphonic intensity. (Commento di Pier Luigi Coda)
The poems: ALONG THE RAIL TO OVADA Along ancient tracks of tired rail, Reduced is the space of a little house straw-colored, ocher tiles on the roof, from cars speeding sacrificed. Loving little windows, mindful of the good old time, to green hills, air and heaven imploring, eyes turn. Red, pink, slightly mottled, in earthenware pots slightly cracked, blooming geraniums, in many decades, gift unique and rare received from Heaven, precious gemstones are to the eye. A gentle hand to the turgid petals, cautious, not to hurt them, trembling, stretches. Along the route by train to Ovada, a small, very small, with tiny green shutters, overlooking the track, could enjoy the view of the green hills of Piedmont, but not spaces, sacrificed on technical progress. Only precious, some geraniums in pots of clay, ornament of the dwelling. Tuesday, July 6, 2010 WHERE UNRAVEL, OR RIVER ... Where unravel, river, scarce water in summer you, that slip into the thick unknown of tangled bush shy and wild? Neglected between smooth pebbles and tangled branches unfold your course, in sinuous curves. Alongside the path of thorns garnished with berries that aren’t yet ripe, are not friends of brown pulpy blackberries from tiny clumps of pink flowers offered, join your path. You, in one breath, with my thoughts, in silent agreement, go to search a longed bridge in resolving breath an open space of clear waters. Looking at the bed of the river Stura, flowing through the lush vegetation on a summer morning, its loops through the tangled bushes, recalled the Author his thoughts so like to the branches that accompanied the water-course: both the river and the Author seemed, in one breath, find a bridge to cross it, finding a benevolent space to their difficulties. By train to Ovada, Tuesday, July 6, 2010 THE WOLF Lonely deep in the woods, circumspect, going out scouting, penetrates; at every rustle becomes suspicious. Of man the cold ferocity fears, careful between legs the tail strikes attitude. Isolated from the rest of the world, fugitive wanders, suspicious glance, feels disconnected; with the herd of similar wandering life leads. (1) Of the predator, for predatory aggression, Unexpected, each domestic animal, helpless, anguishes. (2) Secular rift between them; but the wild animal, antisocial, grumpy, the eye points, suspiciously watchful. Now anger now melting penalty it causes, in a nightly howling heartfelt bursting, detached from the universe. The wolf. (1) The wolf is a solitary animal and does not socialize with humans, usually.Leads a life of herd, in obedience to a leader recognized by other group members. 2) Animals that live in wooded areas, as well the herds or flocks, fear the sudden incursion of the wolf, who wanders in search of food when hungry. Torriglia, May 10, 2010. CAMBRIDGE SOUVENIRS ... Cambridge: like a kaleidoscope flower gardens in sporadic moments illuminated by the sun, after sudden rains, explode. Newly opened flowers, under clear reverberations at Cambridge serene whisper stories, between fragrant flower beds; source of love is its cure. Willow, patiently, silent. For young people, lions in pairs carved for eternity, of the Fitzwilliam Museum (1) on the massive door, the welcome to extend, how do they know, jaws exhibit, open. Quickly the umbrella opens; thin drops on Cam from mild course, fall.. On welcoming shores the grassy turf omits many secrets. Soft rays between the clouds in the sky slip again; Bridge of Sighs, (2) emolous of Venice, (In memory of the Great Republic for ancient history), (3) connects the two banks. Of children and families and animals are renewed at the warmth, unusual gift is the sudden return of the river to the friendly stream, Sweet surrender ... for a fleeting moment. By fence horses from the shiny fur peaceful grazing grass. Concentrates young people about Sons and Lovers (4) bent pupils, according the songs of Beatlles dream the future. Oasis unforgettable of pure happiness. Cambridge, my dear. (1) The reference is addressed to the marble lions of the famous Museum in Cambridge, where young people from every nation of the seventies sometimes stood between a lesson and a look at nice and interesting places, typical of Anglo-Saxon world. Neoclassical structure, the Fitzwilliam Museum contains important collections of historical art, most of which was donated by the seventh Viscount, from which it took its name, Fitzwilliam. It 'was designed by George Basevi (1794-1845), born in London. (2) The Ponte dei Sospiri (Bridge of sights), so nicknamed in honor or likeness of the Venetian, is a pleasant resort on the river, under which pass the slender boats led by young people. In reality, the bridge above, beneath which runs the River Cam, is similar but not identical, although with its graceful beauty. (3) The Great Republic (with the big story) is Venice (4) Sons and Lovers, 1913 is a famous, valuable novel by DH Lawrence. Born in Eastwood (Nottinghamshire) in 1885, son of a miner and a teacher, studied at Nottingham. He created a new kind of novel from the point of view of the exposition as well as content. AT SAN SIRO OF STRUPPA, A SUMMER EVENING At the bell tower, Romanesque style construct, as procession leafy of round about, stay old knights, beautiful and motionless, from green armor protected, in the summer heat, fragrant trees. Innocent flowers on ancient balcony orderly and neat, at twilight, give Welcome to the customers. Happy the rustic tablecloth of remote days whispers the story to the table companion of today friends among them, satisfied to converse: happy of the hour, of the after ... and a little bit of yesterday. San Siro of Struppa is a church in Genoa, in a pure Romanesque style, straight and beautiful architecture. Surrounded by green mountains, where the hand of man has not intervened in the environment, including homes neat and clean, there is a nice inn in ancient costume: symbol, for the author of a friendly conversation, and benevolent feelings not polluted by any kind of venality. Genoa, July 23, 2010

Critical comment :

The vibrant and blazing lyricism of Raffaella Saponaro runs along a mapping system that gives rise to a "geography of melancholy" in the representation on paper of the surface of the soul infused into the landscape and vice versa.
The subtlety of this poem is that the author does not force the appearance of the landscape, she doesn’t introduce extra-ordinary items, simply immersed in the ecstasy that she will try.
The 'eternal' is enclosed and enhances details, in a harmony of colors and notes, of musical and figurative quality (the tiles ocher, the turgid petals, the rustic tablecloth etc.) that hold in themselves the progress of a dance, the sweetness of a rhythm that becomes docile even in the description of fugastro (fugitive with fear) wolf.
Behind the apparent randomness of the impressions, almost disassociated, knocks at the door the emotional element that recreates: the intensity of an emotional connection, a memory with a site that loads each object of invaluable, of significance once again new and re-emerging.
Raffaella Saponaro is the daughter of Pascoli's poetic memory no less than that of the object that enhances each image to a further sense, uber in German.
Only what the mind can and does provide enriching with secret correspondences and obtaining a tissue of simultaneous sensations of heartbeats of consciousness, an unit that will steal across the total and full of meaning, able to capture all sounds, colors , odors and represent this world of sensations in the suggestion of musical language.
(Comment by Cristina Raddavero)

Transits and memories surround the poetic iter of Raffaella Saponaro with the delicate colors of thoughts kept in veils of mind as a protective casket of fleeting harmonies and distant images.
Moments are captured by coincidence or by daily walks of life bonded into the fabric of existence that know to emerge and suggest timely inspired flashes of poetry: a furtive glance from the window of a moving train, the lions of the museum in Cambridge, the wooded ravines of a river.
And here, among these games, always with whispered measure, of words and thoughts, producing a vague similarity of literary references that refer to segments certainly minimalist of Giovanni Pascoli poetic,but, above all, to the musicality composition of the verse, to the research lexical and vision panic by Gabriele D'Annunzio, where man and nature interpenetrate each other to produce lyrical symphonic intensity.
(Commento di Pier Luigi Coda)

The poems:

ALONG THE RAIL TO OVADA

Along ancient tracks
of tired rail,
Reduced is the space
of a little house
straw-colored,
ocher tiles on the roof,
from cars speeding
sacrificed.

Loving little windows,
mindful of
the good old time,
to green hills,
air and heaven imploring,
eyes turn.

Red, pink, slightly mottled,
in earthenware pots
slightly cracked,
blooming geraniums,
in many decades,
gift unique and rare
received from Heaven,
precious gemstones
are to the eye.

A gentle hand
to the turgid petals,
cautious, not to hurt them,
trembling, stretches.

Along the route by train to Ovada, a small, very small, with tiny green shutters, overlooking the track, could enjoy the view of the green hills of Piedmont, but not spaces, sacrificed on technical progress. Only precious, some geraniums in pots of clay, ornament of the dwelling.

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

WHERE UNRAVEL, OR RIVER ...

Where unravel,
river,
scarce water in summer
you,
that slip
into the thick unknown
of tangled bush
shy and wild?

Neglected between smooth pebbles
and tangled branches
unfold your course,
in sinuous curves.

Alongside the path of thorns
garnished with berries
that aren’t yet ripe,
are not friends
of brown pulpy blackberries
from tiny clumps
of pink flowers offered,
join your path.

You,
in one breath,
with my thoughts,
in silent agreement,
go to search
a longed bridge
in resolving breath
an open space of clear waters.

Looking at the bed of the river Stura, flowing through the lush vegetation on a summer morning, its loops through the tangled bushes, recalled the Author his thoughts so like to the branches that accompanied the water-course: both the river and the Author seemed, in one breath, find a bridge to cross it, finding a benevolent space to their difficulties.

By train to Ovada, Tuesday, July 6, 2010

THE WOLF

Lonely
deep in the woods,
circumspect, going out scouting,
penetrates;
at every rustle
becomes suspicious.
Of man
the cold ferocity
fears,
careful between legs
the tail strikes attitude.
Isolated
from the rest of the world,
fugitive wanders,
suspicious glance,
feels disconnected;
with the herd of similar
wandering life leads. (1)
Of the predator,
for predatory aggression,
Unexpected,
each domestic animal,
helpless, anguishes. (2)
Secular rift between them;
but the wild animal,
antisocial, grumpy,
the eye points,
suspiciously watchful.
Now anger now melting
penalty
it causes,
in a nightly howling
heartfelt bursting,
detached from the universe.
The wolf.

(1) The wolf is a solitary animal and does not socialize with humans, usually.Leads a life of herd, in obedience to a leader recognized by other group members.
2) Animals that live in wooded areas, as well the herds or flocks, fear the sudden incursion of the wolf, who wanders in search of food when hungry.

Torriglia, May 10, 2010.

CAMBRIDGE SOUVENIRS ...

Cambridge:
like a kaleidoscope
flower gardens
in sporadic moments
illuminated by the sun,
after sudden rains,
explode.

Newly opened flowers,
under clear reverberations
at Cambridge serene
whisper stories,
between fragrant flower beds;
source of love is its cure.
Willow, patiently,
silent.

For young people,
lions in pairs
carved for eternity,
of the Fitzwilliam Museum (1)
on the massive door,
the welcome to extend,
how do they know,
jaws exhibit,
open.

Quickly the umbrella
opens;
thin drops on Cam
from mild course,
fall..
On welcoming shores
the grassy turf
omits many secrets.

Soft rays
between the clouds in the sky
slip again;
Bridge of Sighs, (2)
emolous of Venice,
(In memory of the Great Republic
for ancient history), (3)
connects the two banks.

Of children and families
and animals
are renewed at the warmth,
unusual gift
is the sudden return
of the river
to the friendly stream,
Sweet surrender ...
for a fleeting moment.
By fence
horses from the shiny fur
peaceful grazing grass.
Concentrates young people
about Sons and Lovers (4)
bent pupils,
according the songs of Beatlles
dream the future.

Oasis unforgettable
of pure happiness.
Cambridge, my dear.

(1) The reference is addressed to the marble lions of the famous Museum in Cambridge, where young people from every nation of the seventies sometimes stood between a lesson and a look at nice and interesting places, typical of Anglo-Saxon world. Neoclassical structure, the Fitzwilliam Museum contains important collections of historical art, most of which was donated by the seventh Viscount, from which it took its name, Fitzwilliam. It 'was designed by George Basevi (1794-1845), born in London.
(2) The Ponte dei Sospiri (Bridge of sights), so nicknamed in honor or likeness of the Venetian, is a pleasant resort on the river, under which pass the slender boats led by young people. In reality, the bridge above, beneath which runs the River Cam, is similar but not identical, although with its graceful beauty.
(3) The Great Republic (with the big story) is Venice
(4) Sons and Lovers, 1913 is a famous, valuable novel by DH Lawrence. Born in Eastwood (Nottinghamshire) in 1885, son of a miner and a teacher, studied at Nottingham. He created a new kind of novel from the point of view of the exposition as well as content.

AT SAN SIRO OF STRUPPA, A SUMMER EVENING

At the bell tower,
Romanesque style
construct,
as procession leafy
of round about,
stay old knights,
beautiful and motionless,
from green armor
protected,
in the summer heat,
fragrant trees.

Innocent flowers
on ancient balcony
orderly and neat,
at twilight,
give Welcome to
the customers.

Happy
the rustic tablecloth
of remote days
whispers the story
to the table companion of today
friends among them,
satisfied to
converse:
happy of the hour, of the after
... and a little bit of yesterday.

San Siro of Struppa is a church in Genoa, in a pure Romanesque style, straight and beautiful architecture. Surrounded by green mountains, where the hand of man has not intervened in the environment, including homes neat and clean, there is a nice inn in ancient costume: symbol, for the author of a friendly conversation, and benevolent feelings not polluted by any kind of venality.

Genoa, July 23, 2010