South Texas Poet, Rossy Evelin Lima, 
Wins Italian Poetry Award

​Milan, Italy - South Texas author, Rossy Evelin Lima, receives first place in the Italian poetry award Concorso Internazionale La Finestra Eterea. With a poem about her grandfather, Rossy Lima obtains the award given by the non-profit organization La Finestra Eterea supported by the province of Milan.

The award ceremony held on October 28th 2017, took place at Villa Ghirlanda Silva in Milan, Italy, where an Italian translation of Lima’s poem, along with the other winning poems were read to a captive audience. 

Award Ceremony at Villa Ghirlanda Silva. Milan, Italy

Award Ceremony at Villa Ghirlanda Silva. Milan, Italy

“This award resonates in my heart because, besides being written in Spanish, it talks about the difficult times my grandfather faced as a child.” said Lima. “This recognition is a reminder that we must honor our heritage, treasure it and revive it. I receive this award from a distance, and I share it with my family and my community, with my grandfather in heaven from whom I inherited the love for words.”

"It is the flexing image of her ancestor working the earth and of her family that makes [Rossy] create one of the sweetest and most fascinating compositions—submerging her pen in the colors and values of the soul", said Rosario Medaglia, president of La Finestra Eterea. 

The following is the award winning poem in its original language (Spanish) as well as the Italian translation. ​

Linaje

Mi abuelo nunca le arrebató
su rostro a la tierra, 
se levantaba por las mañanas
con la suavidad de los girasoles.
Mi abuelo de azúcar
jamás combatió sus pasos
cuando arrastraba los huesos
y tiraba la caña a la molienda.
De apellido Aquino.
Mi abuelo jamás quebrantó el aliento,
levantaba la mano derecha,
transparente,
y recibía las piedras para hacer su caldo.
Los libros dicen que este apellido
proviene de Italia.
Para mi abuelo su apellido
se encarnece entre paja y junco.
Aquino, igual que sus hermanos,
herencia única de sus padres,
declaración de la condena 
a la que siempre supo sobreponerse:
Aquí no.

Lignaggio

Mio nonno
non ha mai alzato il suo volto dalla terra
lavorandola
dell'alba al tramonto
era sempre
flessibile in alto e in giú come i girasoli.
Generoso, coerente
non ha mai aviurato il suo operato.
Combattivo,
cristinallino
gettò sempre la canna al mulino
sempre in prima fila
per respirare l'aria del progredire
Reciventte le pietre della cultura dai suoi avi:
gli Aquino, cognome di origine italiana,
e come lui,
i suoi fratelli:
lustro
di gamiglia, fatto di paglia e canna
Le difficoltà
le superava sempre
ma ora lui... non è più qui.
​

Gerald A. Padilla
​​1/6/2018

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