Mariano, 27th June 1916

I know a city
that every day is filled with sunlight
and everything is snatched away in that moment

I left one evening

In my heart lingered the rasp
of the cicadas

From that ship
painted white
I saw
my city disappear
leaving
a glimmer
an embrace of lights in the hazy air
hovering

(Giuseppe Ungaretti, trans. Maggie Evans, r.i.p.)