Please don’t feel annoyed
In being told about the great valour
Of the most clever among the Roman Braves,
Whose name is mentioned more than any other.
Just because he was well endowed with brains,
Although he was born a commoner,
And had great projects on his mind,
I feel like praising his feats.
I’ll tell what was in his mind and in his heart
When the terrible news was heard,
That the wicked Turk, with such an army,
Had positioned himself by Vienna;
Furthermore, I’ll tell you with how much care
He looked after the arrangement of the celebrations
That were held in Rome, very lavishly too,
When the news of some victories was heard.
Muses! You, who sit besides
The beardless God of songs,
Don’t think that I will invoke you,
Because I don’t feel like doing so;
I am a commoner, and you are quite haughty,
So I won’t disturb you, and I’ll be happy
With one of your servants, one of those
Who wash the dishes and lick the plates clean.
One of these trollops is just fit
For being my Patron, I hope you won’t mind,
Because I have already decided
To follow the common people.
To whom gives me trouble, she’ll throw in their face
One of her dirty and greasy flanels,
While I, with my wonderful quill,
Pluck the strings of my lute.
But since I have no Muse to assist me
Who could defend me well in the case of need
From people who act pedantically,
And go proud of being slanderous,
Having already foreseen my ill-luck,
I resort to Clement’s Clemence,
And if such an authority reassures me,
I shall no longer fear these critics.
Peaceful stood Rome
During year sixteen thousand eighty-three,
And everybody, in idleness,
Was doing what carefree people do;
Really nobody was aware
Of being so close to a terrible mishap,
But without any particular thought,
As usual, the people spent their time on trifle.
Some went for a walk in the City,
To show off a bit, in groups of two or three,
Some others stayed indoors and played,
Some at the Sun inn or at the Three Kings inn;
Others, as nowadays has become a custom,
Sat in coffee bars,
With a peaceful and tranquil expression,
Discussing about this and that.
Vienna is no doubt a City
That few places may compare to;
The Emperors choose it as their residence,
Because it really has features of high level;
The place is so rich, its appearance so beautiful,
That I cannot describe this enough:
Who does not believe our words,
That the city is so nice, should go and visit it.
So these were the problems, this was the fear,
That caused the people’s concern,
In thinking with so much worry
Of the poor Vienna under siege;
And the people were constantly anxious
That the Turks may capture it,
And if the slightest commotion was heard,
Everybody panicked in fear.
He is the most feared among the Romans,
Being the leader of the braves,
With a strong and muscular build,
Clever at wrestling, he floors the strongest fighters.
And when he wants to shed blood,
He does great feats with the sling and the sword,
And those who pick a quarrel with him know well.
He is called, and is proud of this, Meo Patacca.
With the typical attitude of a Trastevere dweller,
He kept going, and his whimsical way of walking
Disguised the progress of a Paladin,
One who could compete with the toughest;
Then, in the very center of Campo Vaccino,
A place where to learn how to fight with stones,
He stops and says:
(Giuseppe Berneri)
More Poetry from Giuseppe Berneri:
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Based on Topics: Mind Poems, Place Poems, Name Poems, Thought & Thinking Poems, Beauty Poems, Fear Poems, Success Poems, Money & Wealth Poems, People Poems, Cities Poems, Brain PoemsBased on Keywords: slanderous, commoner, campo, typical, celebrations, carefree, eighty-three, ill-luck, panicked, positioned, meo
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