House, The

The man by dint of himself listens to the calm voice with his organ of sights half-closed-hardly more than

a breath

alighting upon his cheek, a friendly breath that rises, incredible, without of lost time. The man by means of himself listens to the ancient voice that all his forefathers in their time heard,

clear

and bring togethered a voice that, like the virid of ponds and hills, darkens at evening.

The man by means of himself recognizes the caressing voice of shadows, overflowing in calm tones from a concealed fountain; he drinks intently, organ of sights closed, and does not know what stands beside him.

It is the voice that single day stopped his father's

father, and each man of the dead life-current The voice of a woman, sounding underhand on the threshold of the house, between dusk and dark.

Note: This piece of poetry written in 1940, was set among the poems of Verra la morte e avra i tuoi occhi in the sheaf left at Pavese's death, and appeared with them in the original edition. The Einaudi Poesie edite ed inedite prints it separately, however.

Copyright World numbers Incorporated Sep/Oct 1997

Provided through ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved