Valentine's Day Special Edition.
This morning I woke up and I sat in meditation, as I would usually do. I did not think nor I remembered that today is Valentine’s Day, but the minute I sat on my cushion and closed my eyes, I was filled with love - I felt it really strongly. And so I drifted from my usual meditation routine and I paused to notice what was happening within me; I felt compelled to share the love I was feeling by sending it to the people I love, to those in need and to the people that I don’t love. I believe that in order to receive what we want, we need to give it - as the Universe works through balance and harmony. In a nutshell, what goes around comes around!
I know that I was not supposed to email you today as I normally write every two weeks, but I really wanted to share this love with you too! And I wanted to thank you for all the love I receive form you whenever some of you answers to one of these emails to make a comment or to thank me.
Love goes way beyond romantic love and I find it to be my compass: when I am unsure on how to act or react, love is the guidance. Love is the pillar behind my intentions, my words and my actions - or at least that’s what I am trying to achieve. What is your relationship with love?
I would like to share two love poems and a song that touch me deeply. The first poem is Ho sceso, dandoti il braccio, almeno un milione di scale, by Italian poet Eugenio Montale; he dedicated this poem to his late wife Drusilla Tanzi. The other poem is To see her is a Picture, by American poet Emily Dickinson, dedicated to her friend and love of her life Susan Gilbert. I will write them both in English as well as in Italian. Here they are. Just notice how you feel in front of this disarming tenderness…
Ho sceso, dandoti il braccio, almeno un milione di scale
e ora che non ci sei è il vuoto ad ogni gradino.
Anche così è stato breve il nostro lungo viaggio.
Il mio dura tuttora, nè più mi occorrono
le coincidenze, le prenotazioni,
le trappole, gli scorni di chi crede
che la realtà sia quella che si vede.
Ho sceso milioni di scale dandoti il braccio
non già perché con quattr'occhi forse si vede di più.
Con te le ho scese perché sapevo che di noi due
le sole vere pupille, sebbene tanto offuscate,
erano le tue.
EUGENIO MONTALE, Satura 1971
I descended, with you on my arm, at least a million stairs
and now that you are not here every step is emptiness.
In any case our long journey was too brief.
Mine continues even now, no longer in need
of coincidences, reservations,
ploys, and the scorn of those who believe
that reality is what we perceive.
I descended millions of stairs with you on my arm
not only because four eyes perhaps see more.
With you I descended those stairs because I knew
the only real pupils, although terribly dimmed,
belonged to you.
Translation by ©Matilda Colarossi
To see her is a Picture —
To hear her is a Tune —
To know her an Intemperance
As innocent as June —
To know her not — Affliction —
To own her for a Friend
A warmth as near as if the Sun
Were shining in your Hand.
Emily Dickinson, 1568
Vederla è un quadro −
Ascoltarla è una musica
Conoscerla un eccesso
Così innocente come giugno −
Non conoscerla − afflizione −
Averla come amica
È come se nella tua mano
Ardesse un calore simile al sole.
(Traduzione di Annalisa Cima e Eugenio Montale)
To finish, this is La Canzone Dei Vecchi Amanti, the moving version by Franco Battiato of the song La chanson des vieux amants by Jacques Brel. Enjoy!
Sending love and light,
Francesca