La giostra - Gianmaria Testa

I had a strange dream,

a morning dream,

a weird and truthful dream,

that I woke up and was still a little boy

and was setting off, my bed a sailing-ship.

On one side there was the sea

and on the other practically nothing

a storm was puffing the sails,

I was flying over people’s hats,

I was shouting to the world, and the world was a carousel

tell me if you believe me,

and if you believe me, wait for me because

if I ever come back

I’ll come back to you.

Tell me if you believe me,

and if you believe me wait for me,

that way, if I come back,

you’ll already be here.

A cannon’s mouth

was spitting cannonballs and fire,

and there was a red cat at a window

almost as if it were a game, he was watching

people falling off the carousel.

They were falling into the streets

but without making much noise

like leaves in the November wind,

and the red cat’s heart grew sad,

but he stayed at the window, as always.

Tell me if you believe me,

and if you believe me, wait for me,

that way, if I come back,

you’ll already be here.