Istrales [English translation]

An ax stroke to the comrades 1

who are no longer comrades,

now they’re attending to the strangers

face in the dirt and bottom in the air.

An ax stroke to the comrades

so that they don’t leave the flock

and a good flurry of punches

that will bring us together again.

An ax stroke to the cantors

of the new winner,

a bad race of turncoats2

who lay an egg anywhere.3

To the four little Moors,4

may history prod them

like a goad to donkeys

so they’ll recover their memory.

To the main court5

that want Sardinians to be mute,

without a native language,

so we won’t be mouthy.

To the worthless men,

those who kidnap people,

without heart, without valor,6

they kidnap even a helpless child.

An ax stroke to you, mate,

envious and greedy,

who to make money

have fucked even your soul.

An ax stroke to you, mate,

and a huge lightning stroke,

may they find you within a year

face to face7with hell.

Remember that road,

that damned highway:

at its appellation “Felice”8

even death laughs.

Remember that road,

remember the crosses,

may God protect your return

in the unlit nights.

It takes a lot of boots

to run through life

among sweat and worries

waiting to get out.

It takes a lot of boots,

but there’s someone, who is sincere,9

and through this life of poverty

he is running really barefoot.

1. This appellation may be understood both as a political fellow and as an old friend of youth.2. Literaly: jumpers, hoppers.3. They adapt themselves to live everywhere, under any condition.4. A reference to the Sardinian flag.5. The Italian parliament. It’s said ironically. The “Cortes” were the central parliament and the local administrations during the Spanish rule, but here it means also an aristocratic council. “Printzipales” were the members of the wealthy class in past times.6. Literaly: hairless, beardless. that is, without manliness.7. Literaly: snouts together.8. ”Felice” means “happy”. The state highway n. 131, that connects the main cities in Sardinia, is named also “Carlo Felice”, in honor of the king of the Savoy family who started the construction of the road. There are endlessly works in progress on that road and its precarious security situation caused many accidents.9. honest, truthful