Dedicata ad Annelise, mia madre - Remembering Annelise, my mother

Era bello pettinare i tuoi lunghi capelli,

biondi come il miele, profumati di acacia,

mentre mi mettevi il pigiamino verde e giallo.

Era incantevole la tua voce,

mentre mi cantavi la ninna nanna

con le carezze date da mani soffici.

Impossibile scordare le tue sgridate,

concluse sempre in un abbraccio

forte e protettivo.

Eri bella, luminosa, avvenente, donna,

e capivi che i tuoi profondi occhi verdi

sapevano far tacere tutti, me compreso.

Eri alta, slanciata, e danzavi per noi.

Eri tu. Vera. Unica. E ti ricordo così.

Mia madre.

copyright©Mikhail Lermontov - 2016

It was nice to comb your long hair,

blond as honey, fragrant of acacia,

while you helped me to dress the green and yellow pajamas.

Your voice was lovely,

while you sang a lullaby

with caresses given from soft hands.

Impossible to forget your scoldings,

always ended in a hug

strong and protective.

You were beautiful, bright, attractive, woman,

and you understood that your deep green eyes

imposed to silence everyone, including myself.

You were tall, slender, and danced for us.

That one was you. Real. Unique. And I remember you so.

My mother.