Sardinian Whispers

[Stephen Torelli]

Collinas, Sardegna, a quaint hilltop where it is not uncommon to live to one hundred and three… shepherds, shop-owners, craftsman--stonemasons, bricklayers, and carpenters--chefs, teachers, and artists gather to celebrate. Fresh, colorful, and well fit, like the patrons of Virginia Beach, yet when you look closer you see stony faces and reserved townsfolk, like Spartans of yesteryear.

They assemble at their Romanesque town square to dance to the accordion, tambourine, guitar and shepherd’s pipe… a southern Mediterranean style music, side by side the couples form in a circle as their feet perform fast and rhythmic while the body remains still… old, young, and in-between.

Before long, I join in with a beautiful yet austere woman when a young girl approaches and signals to whisper in my ear; and as I lean forward she says, “My dear sir, you are suppose to clasp the top of her arm, above the gentle ladies’ wrist and you will do just fine.” Trying not to smile I nod and gently move my arm from around my partner’s waist and clasp my hand gently above her wrist as she sighs in relief and the circle of dancers barely grin. 

We pause for a sip of Mirto and dance past midnight until the music ends, then sit in the medieval garden watching the townsfolk depart when a dog barks yet in whispering tones and joined by another and another, although they fall silent when a rooster crows, but he also falls silent as the townsfolk’s shutters close, and again, I hear music of a different sort… undertones of love in the dark night air.

 

 

[Stephen Torelli]

Gita, thanks for your response. And yes, I do read these to my wife. She's translating this tale to Italian for the Sardinian folklore association in Collinas. They are printing the account in their weekly bulletin. Not many outsiders visit their village and they are pleased that someone with a fresh perspective wrote about them.

[Gita]

gorgeous, just gorgeous. Thank you for taking me there. The part about the dogs made me smile because there's a Japanese saying:  "one dog barks at something and a hundred dogs bark at nothing."

I love the last line. Do you read these to your wife?

[Stephen Torelli]

Thanks for your comments Jeanette and give your mother-in-law my regards, "Tante salute a tua suocera."

[Jeanette Cheezum]

We haven't been to Sardinia. But we have danced to the accordion, tambourine, guitar and shepherd’s pipe in Italy and at the Roma Lodge in VA Beach. Well of course I loved the reference to VA Beach. I will read this to my 93 year old Italian mother-in-law.