Black earth red earth, <br />you come from the sea, <br />from the arid green, <br />where there are ancient <br />words and bloody toil <br />and geranium among rocks— <br />you don't know how much you bring <br />of toil and words from the sea, <br />you're rich like a memory, <br />like the barren countryside, <br />you hard and sweetest word, <br />ancient because of the blood <br />gathered in the eyes; <br />young, like a fruit <br />that is a memory and a season— <br />your breath rests <br />under the sky of August, <br />the olives of your look <br />sweeten the sea, <br />and you live and live again <br />without amazement, certain <br />like the earth, dark <br />like the earth, a grinder <br />of seasons and dreams <br />that reveals itself under the moon <br />to be so old, just like <br />the hands of your mother, <br />the bowl of the brazier.<br /><br />Cesare Pavese<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/black-earth-red-earth/
