Poesia"LA VITA DI UN AMORE"

NELL’ANIMA NEGLI OCCHI

LE PAROLE CHE NON SERVONO

I PENSIERI EFFIMERI

DEGLI AMORI Più TRISTI

AMARE UN AMORE

CHE RISPETTO NON HA

UNIRE UN AMORE

CON PAROLE E PROMESSE

E GUARDARE NEL CUORE

LE COSE MAI DETTE

IL CORAGGIO DI VIVERE E

NON FAR MAI PROMESSE

E PENSANDO A LEGGERE IL RACCONTO CHE SCRIVO

E VEDER NEL PROFONDO

IL TUO DOLCE SORRISO

ED è QUELLO CHE CONTA

PER FAR CAPIR AL CUORE

CHE LE COSE CHE CONTANO

NON SON LE PAROLE

CAMŌGGI 

IN TE ÛN PAISE NASCIOU DALL'AEGUA DO MÂ

DÄ O PORTO 'NA VOXE CH'A CRIA: "ANDAE A PESCÂ!"

E ANCON ÖDÔ DE PESCIO SE SENTE CHI A-O MÂ

E NOIÂTRI CHE SEMMO CHI Ä AMMIÂ

DÄ CIASSA COLOMBO (CÖMBO) PE' O MÂ

(AMMIANDO VERSO O MÂ 'O PORTO)

E DONNE CO-I FIGGÊU SON ZÀ A MANGIÂ

E O CASTELLO, O L'AMMIA ASCÌ LÊ O MÂ

CAMŌGGI CAMŌGGI 'O L'È 'NA SCAA PE' O MÂ

CAMŌGGI CAMŌGGI L'È 'NA GËXA IN MÂ

'NA FESTA, 'NA POËLA E I DRAPPI A-O DAVANSÄ

ARRIGORDI DE MAINAE PARTII A NAVEGÂ

E VËGIA MEMÖIE DE GENTE PASSÂ

DA O REMMO 'NA VOGÂ E O DRAGON O L'È IN MÂ

MI NASCIOU IN TO PORTO E STAGGO A PENSÂ

I AMIXI D'INFANSIA 'MA MOAE E O MÂ

'NA VOXE DE FRAE A L'È IN TO CHÊU

A CRIA ARMONIOSA IN TO MAE CHÊU

CAMŌGGI CAMŌGGI 'O L'È 'NA SCAA PE' O MÂ

CAMŌGGI CAMŌGGI L'È 'NA GËXA IN MÂ

CAMŌGGI CAMŌGGI SON TANTI CARRŌGGI

DE GNTE ORGOGLIOSA DE ISTOIE PASSAE!

'NA FESTA, 'NA POËLA E ÖDÔ DE FRITŌ

L'È O PAISE CIÙ BELLO DE ÛN MONDO ANTIGO

CAMŌGGI CAMŌGGI 'O L'È 'NA SCAA PE' O MÂ

CAMŌGGI CAMŌGGI L'È 'NA GËXA IN MÂ                                                      

Traduzione inglese

CAMOGLI  INTRODUCTION

I believe that in order to penetrate down deep into this thought of mine -and considering that it has been turned into a musical poem as well - it is

essential to make one introduction, or rather two: the first concerns the
translation from the Genoese dialect into Italian, necessary to give the
opportunity to understand the sense of the words used to tell the story; the
second concerns the intention or the desire to explain 'the whole' starting
from the oldness of this small fishermen and sailors' village, made of past
stories and customs of considerable historical value which continue up to the
present and still give strong emotions to those who live in this Ligurian area.
Also those who come here several times a year are fascinated and intrigued by
Camogli, leaving in their hearts the desire to come back...
Based on what stated above the poem 'Camuggi' (Camogli) was given music andmelody so much so that the close-eyed listener has the perception of the sea
courting its coastline and shores. The waves noise blends with the tolling of
the bells from the church which almost stands from the sea as a shield against
the raging storms which over the years have given way to sailors' stories and their
adventures all around the world.
My great-grandfather OUVRIEZ BONAZ LORENZO was one of these sailors. He started
as a ship-boy, then became a boatswain and finally the owner of a small leudo
(one of the typical Ligurian boats) named PETRONILLA moored in the port of
Camogli. He died at a young age while working at sea leaving little memories of
his past voyages to his son Lorenzo (my grandfather) and his daughter Caterina
(my aunt and godmother). These people are the poetic inspiration for this poem along
with one of the promoters of Camogli's fish feast: Mr. Viacava Lorenzo, nicknamed
'O NAPOLI' (in the early 80s he explained the reason for his nickname during an
interview at the Italian Radio and Television Corporation)...
Mr.Viacava, the fisherman, was nicknamed 'Napoli' because he had grown up
with a strong passion for the Neapolitan music and melodies which he used to
sing while my grandfather played his guitar. Their common passion for music was
the start of their friendship made of exchanged feelings and mutual respect. My
grandfather was the first to tell me all these seamen stories and the first to
introduce me to the guitar, teaching me how to play the first chords. He was always
ready to speak about these stories rooted in this enchanted place since the
past, stories made of men and women who lived in the port area. The same place
where I was born and had lived during my youth.
The port area is the place where you can feel the true meaning of being a
real 'Cammugin' (inhabitant of Camogli), a world made of fishing and caring for
the nets which are prepared and repaired to be ready to use for various types
of fishing (even now the Camogli 'tonnarina' (tuna fishing) represents a tradition
never lost over the years).
To me there was another important person who lived next door in the same 'carruggio'
(alley) where I was born. He also had grown in Camogli and just like me he saw Camogli
through a unique light, an image that he transposed into his boat... His name
is Ido Battistone, the creator of 'DRAGUN', the symbol of Camogli's
never-ending historical evolution. For years also my brothers and I have been
part of the crew of this wonderful boat and have lived magic adventures on
board while bringing the name of our homeland to the world.
My curiosity about this man was remarkable, in fact he had the same dreamas me: sharing a boat with his 'people from Camogli'... The same idea that I'm
trying to express through these poetic lines which I want to share with my
people, people full of wisdom and charming ability as storytellers, who I loved
to listen to and learn from as I was growing up when I was a kid.
Obviously I have also to thank another person who gave a significant
contribution to my growth, although unknowingly. Selene Viacava was the grand-daughter
of the legendary NAPOLI and the daughter of the famous fisherman called 'U
Giuse', (Napoli's son). She used to tell me the stories of his family of rooted
fishermen and showed me photographic documents which have produced indelible
memories.
As kids we were part of a square, Piazza Colombo, a meeting place for allof us and a wonderful playground for those of us who lived in the port area. As
time has gone by many of them have been lost, partly because of their job, partly
due to life choices, and in some cases for premature deaths... But even now there
are still many of them and I often see them when I come to visit Camogli.
We often spoke of our youth and the life we lived with our families, who would
watch over us from the window of our homes. Our parents could perfectly see
everything given the height of the typical Camogli houses! Nothing was missed out
by their eyes not even our mischief. Sometimes as soon as we returned home a
slap made our cheeks turn red and aching: a direct lesson in life and at the
same time a sound way to raise children that left no trauma on us. Nowadays it
would be impossible to apply the same upbringing method to our children or
grandchildren who are too often excused for their wrong behaviours and therefore
are deprived of something that proved so prificuous for us. A strong scolding never
shocked us, but made us stronger. I still remember going fishing at night with
the fishing lights at the age of 13. Doing it now would not be possible but for
us it was normal and a way to become a man.
The sea would teach very much... First of all respect... So it was better
never challenge it and take care of it... (especially because it provided us
food and was not only a source of income).
At a certain time in the evening the square where we used to play became the
place from where the fishing boats sailed. Our usual destination was the fishing
lights of the 'gozzi' (the typical Ligurian fishing boats) moored offshore about
a mile in front of Mulinetti and Sori, two resorts located in the Gulf of
Genoa. We would fish also small squids and would go off to CALA DELL'ORO (the
Golden Cove, a fishing spot located in front of the slopes of the mountain of
Portofino) when we wanted to catch anchovies.
This short story is an introduction to the poem which has become a song. It
gives the listener the opportunity to deeply penetrate the melodic tale about a
unique place in the world and the people who lived there years ago. These
people's lives are reality and not mere legends. These people have made Camogli
so great without expecting any glory. These seamen and women may sometimes seem
too direct and shun company but they are true persons!... These people have attracted
so much interest all over the world carrying the name of Camogli everywhere both
by land and by sea.
A special thanks goes to the group 'U DRAGUN'. For decades they have brought
customs and traditions of our people all over the world. They represent the spirit
of those who love the sea and live near the sea, they have made us all dream
with their stories. It seems as if  the
flowing of time has been stopped in this beautiful enchanted village full of
the typical charm of Liguria, full of ancient history and kaleidoscopic
emotions, so carefully kept. Here the inhabitants continue traditions and
customs worthy of great admiration and the occasional tourist is charmed by the

striking beauty of this unique Ligurian village.