Born in 1927, Giampiero Neri spent his childhood in the midst of World War II, which devastated his family. He began publishing in the 1960s and was quickly recognized as a major exponent of the Milanese school of poetry. He still lives in Milan.
Meanwhile, try doing something else.
Leave a blank margin in your diary.
Night walker in the city,
...
Di quelle vaghe ombre
dei nomi cui corrispondevano
il tempo cancellava la memoria.
Come sassi lanciati sull'acqua
che affondano dopo breve corsa
le figure si allontanavano
svanivano nell'aria trasparente.
...
Of those uncertain shadows
of names to which they were matched
time has cancelled the memory.
Like stones flung over waters
that sink after their brief run,
those shapes receded into the distance
and vanished into the transparent air.
...
Oppressa dalle cure
la bella pianta avvizziva.
Non è prudente il giardiniere,
"fai di meno, se vuoi avere di più".
...
Stricken by cures
the beautiful plant withered away.
The gardener isn't circumspect,
"Do less, for more."
...