Giulio Variboba

Giulio Variboba Poems

Giulio Variboba Biography

Giulio Variboba (Arbërisht: Jul Variboba; 1725 – 1788) was an Arbëresh poet that gave an important contribution to the literature in the Albanian language. Variboba was born in San Giorgio Albanese in the province of Cosenza to a family originally from the Mallakastra region of southern Albania. He studied at the Corsini seminary in San Benedetto Ullano, a centre of learning and training for the Byzantine Greek priesthood. This seminary, founded in 1732 by Pope Clement XII, had an impact on the cultural advancement of the Arbëresh of Calabria in the eighteenth century similar to that of the Greek seminary of Palermo for the Arbëresh of Sicily. Variboba, one of its first students, was ordained as a priest in 1749 and returned to his native San Giorgio to assist his elderly father Giovanni, archpriest of the parish. Even during his studies at the Corsini seminary, Variboba had shown a definite preference for the Latin (Catholic) rite over the traditional Byzantine Greek rite in the Arbëresh church. In later years, his polemic support for a transition to the Latin rite made him quite unpopular with both his parish and with the local church hierarchy in Rossano, in particular after his direct appeal to the Pope. He was eventually forced into exile, initially to Campania and Naples, and in 1761 settled in Rome where he spent the rest of his days. Despite the turmoil of these years, Variboba must have known moments of tranquillity, too, for it was soon after his arrival in Rome that his long lyric poem Ghiella e Shën Mëriis Virghiër, Rome 1762 (English: The life of the Virgin Mary, in modern Albanian: Gjella e Shën Mërisë së Virgjër, with Gjella meaning Life in English), was published. It was the only Arbëresh book printed in the eighteenth century. This loosely-structured poem of 4,717 lines, written entirely in the dialect of San Giorgio Albanese and loaded with much Calabrian Italian vocabulary, is devoted to the life of the Virgin Mary from her birth to the Assumption. Though from the poet’s own life history and his uncompromising and polemic attitude to church rites, one might be led to expect verse of intense spiritual contemplation, the Ghiella evinces more of a light-hearted, earthy ballad tone, using Variboba’s native Calabria as a background for the nativity and transforming the devout characters of the New Testament into hearty eighteenth-century Calabrian peasants. Variboba is unique in early Albanian literature, both in his clear and simple poetic sensitivities and in the variety of his rhythmic expression, though the quality of his verse does vary considerably. The strength of ‘The life of the Virgin Mary,’ interspersed as it is with folk songs, lies indeed in its realistic and down-to-earth style, often pervaded with humour and naivety, and in the fresh local colour of its imagery.)

The Best Poem Of Giulio Variboba

Song Of The Awakening

Awake, son, sleep no longer!
Awake, for you have slept too much,
Come on, wake up, my darling.
Arise, for you've been dozing.
A group of shepherds is coming
In a procession to visit you,
Listen to them dance and sing,
Causing the earth and sea to ring.
Drones and flutes,
Reeds and pipes,
Playing in fair harmony,
Oh, what verse for your refreshment!
Hearken, son, and enjoy it,
Bless them with these hands of yours,
Look at all the presents they have for you,
All the herds that they have brought you,
Touch with your palm this little lambkin,
How white it is, like cotton!
And how soft this pale cheese!
See, the shepherds fetched it for you.
The kid with these goats
Was carried by that 'black-mouthed' fellow,
And the sheep covered in wool
Was led by that 'woolly-legged' chap.
How sweet is this honeycomb,
Nikolla was here and offered it.
Milëkoci sent some giuncata,
Get up, son, and we'll have it together,
It's a kind of cheese that shepherds eat.
A bird that looks like a lark
And a wild dove
And more fresh cheese from Ngjisku.
Up with you, my son, awaken and taste it,
And bless the shepherds.
Now a group of worshippers has arrived,
Singing folk ballads,
Look, son, and enjoy them,
Wake up, for you have had your nap.
Judith is coming with a rooster
And has struck up a song.
Ephigenia has brought a cap,
A cabbage pie and a kid goat.
Malita has lugged a capon,
And her sister has got a peacock.
Five lengths of ribbon
Have been given by the widow Rutiçela.
Her daughter's brought some chestnuts,
Chaffinches and some blackbirds.
Rachel's sporting a belt
To tie around your waist.
Look what Deborah has for you,
A bread roll and a cake made with grape juice.
A length of embroidery
Was borne by Susana this morning.
Sunamita has come with difficulty,
But brings you a fine mantilla.
With great joy Magdalena
Bears for you a scarlet wrap.
Eve has come, but without vigour,
And has for you a fair piece of cloth.
Elizabeth has brought a cross,
Her sister a wallet.
Lia has some diapers
And Serafina some eggs.
Noemea, the one who shouts,
Has proffered a scarf and a sash,
And Sorana, as far as she was able,
Has packed for you a lace shirt.
Three other peasants
Have donated you grapes and a piece of cake.
A girl who just says 'koka'
Gave you raisins and some peaches.
And Dilusha, who is married,
Has brought a tiara for me.
Rebeluça, that poor maiden,
Offers you her heart in her hands,
And Belina, who was pious,
Filched some fruit from Acri.
Martha says that the day after tomorrow,
Her mother will give you some cheese.
Look at everything and bless the gifts and their givers,
Awake, son, sleep no longer!

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