HOW TO READ ITALIAN POEMS

The crucial aspect of RECITAZIONE in Italian is

- which words must be pronounced without breaks (run together)

- which words must be pronounced separated from the others (with a minimal pause)

I MARKED THE PAUSES with //

WORDS PRONOUNCED TOGETHER ARE UNDERLINED

SOUNDFILE

San Martino (Giosue Carducci 1835 – 1907)

La nebbia // a gl'irti //colli  piovigginando // sale,  e sotto // il maestrale urla // e biancheggia // il mar;	The drizzling fog climbs up the steep hills and under the mistral wind the foam-white sea howls.
ma per // le vie // del borgo dal ribollir // de' tini va // l'aspro odor // de i vini l'anime // a rallegrar.	Yet along the village streets From the fermenting barrels The pungent smell of wines Wafts and cheers up the souls.
Gira // su' ceppi //accesi  lo spiedo // scoppiettando:  sta // il cacciator // fischiando  sull'uscio // a rimirar	On the glowing embers The sparking spit is turning: The hunter is whistling On the door stoop and watches
tra le // rossastre // nubi  stormi // d'uccelli // neri,  com'esuli // pensieri,  nel vespero // migrar.	In the reddish clouds Flocks of black birds Like orphan thoughts Migrate in the day at dusk.