San Gennaro/Mulberry Street (A festa e tutte effeste)

Giovedi:
Grandiosa aperture della festa/
la banda suonera per le strade del rione.

A child watches from his aerie on –high/
this magic iron grate/the mystery below.

Sabato:
Grande processione con la statua/
del miracoloso San Gennaro/
che girera per le strade del rione.

The child in the crowd/
awed by the Saint/
miracle over myth.

Lunedi:
Messa solenna che veria/
celebrata dal vescovo chiesa/
‘The Most Precious Blood’/
fara seguito la venerazione/
e processione con le relique di/
San Gennaro.

A Catholic mass/
where language and rites/
overwhelm the child.
A child of descendent blood/
commingling with the/
symbolic blood of Christ/
and the Saints’ blood relic.

Sabato:
Sfilata con carri allegorici/
e bande con l’intervento di/
note personalita.

Oh, this is what the child/
was waiting for/
family gathered to celebrate.
Vino/pasta/pesci/cannoli/
Never ate food from the street.
(with the exception of Zeppole).

Domenica:
Concorso del palo/
della cuccagna.

Cousins, like monkeys/
shimmy up Grease Pole/
to reach prize on top/
heavens’ reward for/
good works.

What magic this child witnessed.


Puma/MMX
Copyright 2010/Tony Puma
‘Voices in my head, verses to be read’.