We stopped, and we wandered in glances
down to the green sore jaws,
and the stamina in our chests melted
as when you lose hopes.
Inside the chest a sad force sleeps in:
and when, in the silence of the moon,
at nights, thin, it creaks and roar,
is because in its bed of stones,
bleary gigantic dreamer,
it fights to wander around and can’t.
Avigliana, March 15, 1946
Primo Levi (Italy, 1919-1987), translation by Slow Words
To learn more about Primo Levi’s Foundation: http://www.primolevi.it/Web/English/Instruments/The_Center