I Want to Hope
Written by Paola Pennecchi
Translated from the Italian by Luigi Bonaffini
Narrated by Bill Wolak
Italy
I want to hope
like the leaves
that whirl
in autumn
leaving branches bare
kissed by the promise of
silent rebirth.
I want to hope
like the torrent’s
icy banks
where life
will bud
or the animal
in its lair
that finds
upon reawakening
the opening
towards that blinding light.
We need to believe
in this sudden miracle
that resets
all that’s pending
and echoes
at last
in the festive
giddiness
of bells.
Paola Pennecchi, was born and lives in Milan. Her poetry has been published in Italian anthologies and literary magazines. Her poetry collection, TRASLOCHI, was published in a bilingual (Italian/English) edition. She has worked as an editor and editorial consultant for Mondadori, Collins, New International Media and other publishing groups. Creator and organizer of poetry events in synergy with the Mitomodernista movement, she is the co-founder of the international Poetry and Discovery movement and consultant at La Casa della Poesia in Milan. Pennecchi participates in Italian and International literary festivals and poetry readings, among which the Mihai Eminescu International Poetry Festival in Craiova, Romania.
Luigi Bonaffini has translated over fourteen books. He is the editor of the Journal of Italian Translation and is Tow Professor of Italian language and literature at Brooklyn College. He lives in Brooklyn, New York.