My little one sleeps snugly in his bed
After a night time filled with sleepless tears.
Beginning at my angel’s birth, my fears
Have grown, my worries for what lies ahead.
Before you know it, come the toddler years.
He’ll be a handful, but he’ll ease my dread;
He knows the trick to bring me joy instead:
Just flash that toothless grin and darkness clears.
But then, one day, he will be gone. A crook,
Some other woman with her phony love,
Will steal him from me with a single look.
He’s still a babe; they’ve never met or kissed.
I hate her though. I feel the instinct of
The mom-in-law, and I’m already pissed.
(From the Venetian of Gilda Amoroso-Steinbach 1877-1945)
Mama
El picio dormi in cuna queto queto
Dopo una note piena de lamenti;
Quanti afani per mi, quanti tormenti
Dal giorno che xe nato el mio angioleto.
E prima che qualcossa el me diventi
Gavarò de subiar per qualche aneto!
Ma de farme beato el ga el segreto
Quel bel muso de baba senza denti.
E dir che vengará quela giornada
Che una dona, mostrando un amor finto,
La me lo robarà con un’ociada.
Cico solo a pensarghe. Ben bonora
Me sento za de sòcera l’istinto
E me scominzia l’astio per la gnora!