Thanks to my wonderful e-friend Audrey Taschini who pointed me to Giuni Russo’s interpretation of A spiritual canticle of the soul and the bridegroom Christ. In the mid 1990s Giuni encountered Carmelite spirituality and grew in her appreciation of Saint Teresa of Avila, Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein), and Saint John of the Cross. She died in 2004. Her last wish was to be buried in the Carmelite Nuns’ cemetery.
Audrey Taschini’s translation:
The summer withers silently
Golden leaves are dripping down,
I open my arms to its weary decline
And leave your light in me.
Shooting stars cross the thoughts,
And desires are slipping down
Put me as a sign upon your heart,
I need you,
You know that the pains of love cannot be cured
If not with the presence of his figure,
Kiss me with the mouth of love,
Pick me up from the ground as a flower,
As a tired child now I want to rest
And I leave my life to you.
You know me, you cannot doubt
Amid a thousand worries I haven’t left,
Stay here by my side lightly touching my hand
And I leave my life to you.
You know that the pains of love cannot be cured
If not with the presence of his figure,
Kiss me with the mouth of love,
Pick me up from the ground as a flower,
A silent music is the dawn,
Solitude that restores and enamors,
As a tired child now I want to rest
And I leave my life to you.
I miss the presence of his figure.
The Italian original:
L’estate appassisce silenziosa
Foglie dorate gocciolano giù
Apro le braccia al suo declinare stanco
E lascia la tua luce in me
Stelle cadenti incrociano i pensieri
I desideri scivolano giù
Mettimi come segno sul tuo cuore
Ho bisogno di te
Sai che la sofferenza d’amore non si cura
Se non con la presenza della sua figura
Baciami con la bocca dell’amore
Raccoglimi dalla terra come un fiore
Come un bambino stanco ora voglio riposare
E lascio la mia vita a te
Tu mi conosci non puoi dubitare
Fra mille affanni non sono andata via
Rimani qui al mio fianco sfiorandomi la mano
E lascio la mia vita a te
Sai che la sofferenza d’amore non si cura
Se non con la presenza della sua figura
Musica silenziosa è l’aurora
Solitudine che ristora e che innamora
Come un bambino stanco ora voglio riposare
E lascio la mia vita a te
Mi manca la presenza della sua figura
