✕
Translation
Ax Strokes
An ax stroke to the comrades 1
who are no longer comrades,
now they’re attending to the strangers
face in the dirt and bottom in the air.
An ax stroke to the comrades
so that they don’t leave the flock
and a good flurry of punches
that will bring us together again.
To the four little Moors,4
may history prod them
like a goad to donkeys
so they’ll recover their memory.
To the main court5
that want Sardinians to be mute,
without a native language,
so we won’t be mouthy.
To the worthless men,
those who kidnap people,
without heart, without valor,6
they kidnap even a helpless child.
An ax stroke to you, mate,
envious and greedy,
who to make money
have fucked even your soul.
An ax stroke to you, mate,
and a huge lightning stroke,
may they find you within a year
face to face7with hell.
Remember that road,
remember the crosses,
may God protect your return
in the unlit nights.
It takes a lot of boots
to run through life
among sweat and worries
waiting to get out.
It takes a lot of boots,
but there’s someone, who is sincere,9
and through this life of poverty
he is running really barefoot.
- 1. This appellation may be understood both as a political fellow and as an old friend of youth.
- 2. Literaly: jumpers, hoppers.
- 3. They adapt themselves to live everywhere, under any condition.
- 4. A reference to the Sardinian flag.
- 5. The Italian parliament. It’s said ironically. The “Cortes” were the central parliament and the local administrations during the Spanish rule, but here it means also an aristocratic council. “Printzipales” were the members of the wealthy class in past times.
- 6. Literaly: hairless, beardless. that is, without manliness.
- 7. Literaly: snouts together.
- 8. ”Felice” means “happy”. The state highway n. 131, that connects the main cities in Sardinia, is named also “Carlo Felice”, in honor of the king of the Savoy family who started the construction of the road. There are endlessly works in progress on that road and its precarious security situation caused many accidents.
- 9. honest, truthful
| Thanks! ❤ |  |  |
| thanked 1 time | ||
Submitted by 
Hampsicora on 2016-01-15
Hampsicora on 2016-01-15Last edited by Hampsicora on 2022-08-23
Hampsicora on 2022-08-23✕
Piero Marras: Top 3
| 1. | Babbu meu |
| 2. | Procurade 'e moderare |
| 3. | Ardia |
Idioms from "Istrales"
| 1. | Lay an egg |
Comments
About translator
Thank you for this translation. I've been meaning to review this translation for some time now, but the system keeps saying that I vote too much. Later I forget.