Ros'e Argende
by Douglass DeCandia
Ros’e Argende is the name of a folk song from the Montemarano, Campania region, that inspired the poem. It means Rose and Silver in the dialect of the region.
I heard
a song
today
An old song
from the old country
It sounded like wind
and spoke
of longing
Though I did not
know the words
My body became
a field of poppy
and wheat
And for a moment
that was the forever of this song
Time lost
itself
in me
And we circled
together
Back
and around
and forth again
Untethered
in the wind.
——-
The original song recording
Ros’e Argende, read by the author:
Original lyrics:
Ros’ e argende se n’ha jute,
E la signora è romanuta,
Ohì signo’, ohì signo’,
Ros’ e argende, è ros’ d’amor.
La signora è romanuta,
E a la foresta se n’è juta,
Ohì signo’, ohì signo’,
Ros’ e argende, è ros’ d’amor.
E a la foresta se n’è juta,
e le castagne s’e ‘ignuda,
Ohì signo’, ohì signo’,
Ros’ e argende, è ros’ d’amor.
Le castagne s’è ‘ignuda,
E tutte quanta s’è vennute,
Ohì signo’, ohì signo’,
Ros’ e argende, è ros’ d’amor.
