matilde, come una leggenda (3)

"- Via, via da qui, disse a Berta appena si riprese dal parto travagliato, tra una settimana torniamo in Italia.
La sera stessa, appena il marito ritornò dalla cacia, gli comunicò la sua decisione: era stata lontana dal suo territorio per troppo tempo e doveva realizzare dei progetti. A Goffredo si rivelava per la prima volta l'indole risoluta della moglie (...). Non voleva perdere lei né la ricca dote materiale e di potere che gliene veniva, perciò non tentò di opporsi, solo la pregò di ritornare presto (...), ma lei rispose che la volontà di dio si era già manifestata."

Sara Zanghì, Matilde, come una leggenda (Ferrara: Tufani, 2008), pp. 47-48.

appello Leggere Donna

day off

day off (giorno libero)

- oggi finalmente avrò la possibilità di rilassarmi!
- prima però devo terminare di scrivere il mio saggio, preparare per la conferenza a Oxford, andare all'ufficio postale e in banca, comprare del cibo e fare la lavatrice...
- ok, forse mi rilasso la settimana prossima!

bertinoro

Bertinoro is a fablelike place where I have recently been to listen to Marina Warner's lecture, at the Synapsis conference. She spoke of silhouette artist Lotte Reiniger, a very interesting figure, here is a link to Hansel and Gretel, one of her animated stories. Here, a short documentary on her.

ronde

- shall we go out to get the last icecream of the season this evening?
- are you crazy? There are the volunteer squads around, it's dangerous!

note: the unarmed and unpaid volunteer squads (ronde) are part of the Italian government security policy.

shrunk time

I had a bit of time
somewhere on my desk,
I had it
I was sure,
but it suddenly shrank,
turning itself into tiny dust particles
and almost disappearing...

now I keep it in my pocket
just in case
it shrank even more

primitive mysteries (2)

Primitive Mysteries is divided into three sections: Hymn to the Virgin, Crucifixus and Hosannah. A processional walk is performed before and after each of the three sections. According to Dorothy Bird, who took part ot the dance in 1931, they worked for months on the walk . The walk is done in complete silence and in unison by the group of twelve female dancers and the Virgin. The walk consists of a step forward suspended for a second mid-air, hands cupped and placed on one's own hips and torso in high contraction. No muscle is relaxed, but is shaped like marble. The effect is that of a ritual, intense and minimal.