Dialect Poetry of Southern Italy (Italian Poetry in Translation Book 2)

St. Augustin’s Church

Vegetable gardens all around and the stone pit:
green and gold
like the great gremio’s* banner.
In the background the blue sea
and the silver beach.
You stand in the middle, St. Augustin,
insignificant church
solitary and white
by the roadway.
A peace banner.
Passing before you
at sunset
people offered you
greetings and prayers.
In July the feast.
Happy countryside
filled with sunlight,
trees blushing with fruits
and tables set
under pergolas of early grapes.
Rivers of wine
among bursts of laughter.