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L'uccello in Chiesa

Era d’agosto e un povero uccelletto,
ferito dalla fionda d’un maschietto,
andò, per riposare l’ala offesa,
sulla finestra aperta d’una chiesa.

Dalle tendine del confessionale
il parroco intravide l’animale
ma, pressato dal ministero urgente,
rimase intento a confessar la gente.

Mentre in ginocchio alcuni, altri a sedere
dicevano i fedeli le preghiere,
una donna, notato l’uccelletto,
lo prese al caldo e se lo mise al petto.

D’un tratto un cinguettio ruppe il silenzio e il prete a quel rumore
il ruolo abbandonò di confessore
e scuro in viso peggio della pece
s’arrampicò sul pulpito e poi fece:

“Fratelli, chi ha l’uccello, per favore,
esca fuori dal tempio del Signore.”
I maschi, un po’ stupiti a tal parole,
lenti s’accinsero ad alzar le suole.

Ma il prete a quell’errore madornale
“Fermi!”, gridò, “mi sono espresso male.
Rientrate tutti e statemi a sentire:
solo chi ha preso l’uccello deve uscire.”

A testa bassa, la corona in mano,
cento donne s’alzarono pian piano.
Ma mentre se n’andavano ecco allora che il parroco strillò:
“Sbagliate ancora! Rientrate tutte quante, figlie amate,
ch’io non volevo dir quel che pensate.”

“Ecco, quello che ho detto torno a dire:
solo chi ha preso l’uccello deve uscire,
ma mi rivolgo, non ci sia sorpresa,
soltanto a chi l’uccello ha preso in chiesa.”

Finì la frase e nello stesso istante
le monache s’alzaron tutte quante,
e con il volto pieno di rossore
lasciavano la casa del Signore.

“Oh Santa Vergine!”, esclamò il buon prete,
“Fatemi la grazia, se potete!
Poi: “Senza fare rumore dico, piano piano,
s’alzi soltanto chi ha l’uccello in mano.”

Una ragazza, che col fidanzato
s’era messa in un angolo appartato,
sommessa mormorò, col viso smorto:
“Che ti dicevo? Hai visto? Se n’è accorto!”



The bird in the church

It was August, and a poor little bird,
wounded by a young boy's slingshot,
went to rest its injured wing
on the open window of a church.

On the curtains of the confessional
the priest caught sight of the animal,
but, pressed urgently by the minister,
remained absorbed in taking the people's confessions

While some were on their knees, others were sitting
the faithful said their prayers,
a woman, noticing the little bird,
took it to warmth and put it to her breast

Suddenly a twitter broke the silence and at this noise
the priest abandoned the role of confessor
and dark in the worse face of the pitch[?]
he climbed onto the pulpit and then said:

"Brothers, whoever has the bird, please
come outside to the temple of the Lord."
The men, a little amazed at such words,
were slow to lift their soles.

But the priest, at this huge error,
yelled "Stop! I expressed myself badly.
Go back, all of you, and listen to me:
Only whoever has taken the bird should go outside."

With their heads down, wreaths in hand,
a hundred women stood up very slowly,
but while they went the priest shrieked:
"You're wrong again! All of you go back, beloved daughters,
I don't want to say what you think.[?]"

"There, what I said, I say again:
Only however has caught the bird should go outside,
but I address myself, there should be no surprise,
only to the one who has taken the bird in the church."

He finished the sentence and in the same instant,
the nuns all rose,
and with blushing faces
left the Lord's house.

"Oh, Blessed Virgin!" exclaimed the good priest
"Do me a favor, if you can!"
Then: "Without making a noise, I say slowly,
stand up only whoever has the bird in their hand."

A girl, who was with her boyfriend
in a secluded corner,
murmured softly, with a pale face,
"What did I say? Did you see? He noticed us!"

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