E fui la più radiosa delle donne

Come figlia e sorella

Come moglie e poi madre

Sempre ebbi cura di tutti i miei cari

Resi la casa mia

Angol di Paradiso

E chi v’entrava n’era il Benvenuto.

(libera traduzione e riadattamento da “Antologia di Spoon River” del poeta statunitense Edgar Lee Masters, 51. Lois Spears)

Edgar Lee Masters (1868–1950).  Spoon River Anthology.  1916.

51. Lois Spears

HERE lies the body of Lois Spears,
Born Lois Fluke, daughter of Willard Fluke,
Wife of Cyrus Spears,
Mother of Myrtle and Virgil Spears,
Children with clear eyes and sound limbs—	5
(I was born blind).
I was the happiest of women
As wife, mother and housekeeper,
Caring for my loved ones,
And making my home	10
A place of order and bounteous hospitality:
For I went about the rooms,
And about the garden
With an instinct as sure as sight,
As though there were eyes in my finger tips—	15
Glory to God in the highest.