This collection of poems is a tribute of affection to a language threatened by extinction. Like the glaciers that topped the mountains defining much of Piedmont’s horizon, the agricultural world that still used Piedmontese as its mother tongue has been slowly receding for years. The numbers of speakers of Piedmontese dwindle and attempts at reviving its popularity, albeit commendable, are faced with Italy’s changing demographics. And the much-needed arrival of migrant handworkers from abroad will increase the number of speakers of standard Italian but very unlikely those of Piedmontese. This book is an anthology, but not an objective or comprehensive portrayal of the vernacular poetry still written today in this Northwestern part of Italy. As anthologies do, it reflects the taste of its compiler. The poets whose voices are recorded here in print are alive and writing, carrying forth the torch of ancient traditions and their own mother’s tongue. They come from different areas of Piedmont and diverse walks of life. And their poems are written in different variants of a vernacular that convention would identify with the pronunciation once used in Turin, the region’s capital. Except for few of them, the readership for these poets rarely reaches beyond the confines of the region. This collection hopes to bring more recognition to their work. 

Read individual poet bios, and listen to them read a poem

About the Editor 

Antonello Borra is Professor of Italian at the University of Vermont. His books of poetry are Erbario lapidario (2024), illustrated by Marco Vacchetti, Fabbrica delle idee / Factory of Ideas (2019), Alfabestiario (2013 and 2009), Alphabetabestiario(2011), Frammenti di tormenti (seconda parte)(2006), and Frammenti di tormenti (prima parte)(2000). A selection from his bestiaries were translated into German by Adriana Hösle Borra and Barbara Krohn and appeared with the title AlphabeTiere(2015). He has published Italian translations of poetry from English, German, Spanish, and Catalan. He is the author of Guittone d’Arezzo. Selected Poetry and Prose(2017) and co-author with Cristina Pausini of books on language pedagogy. He has also written extensively on contemporary Italian poetry. His poems have appeared in many journals and magazines including “05401”, “Crocevia”, “Ecozon@”, “Gradiva”, “In forma di parole”, “Italian Poetry Review”, “L’immaginazione”, “Nuovi argomenti”, “Poesia”, and “Steve”. 

More about his literary work can be found here. 

About the Artist

Marco Vacchetti teaches Italian and Latin at the Liceo Classico “D’Azeglio” in his native Turin. He has taught Creative Writing at the Scuola Holden from 1995 and directed the school from 2000 to 2006. He has published Storie dell’arte (Art Histories) (2000). From 2007 to 2009 he kept a column, Pianeta Scuola, in the daily newspaper La Repubblica writing on the Italian school system. He has also held seminars on creative writing for many educational institutions and private companies, including the Fondazione per la Scuola della Compagnia di San Paolo, Iulm Milan, Ied Turin, Turin Polytechnic, Università di Scienze Gastronomiche Pollenzo, Unicredit, Heineken, Feltrinelli Foundation, Circolo dei Lettori, and Festival Spiritualità Turin. He is the author of Disegnare un elefante. L’insegnante di liceo come professione. (Drawing an Elephant. The Profession of Teaching Classical High-School) (2024). He is an accomplished painter and before settling for a career in teaching he worked in television advertising for the Agenzia Armando Testa.

More about his artwork can be found here.