Modica, the Unitre and the dialectal poetry of Franca Cavallo

Poetry was the protagonist of the new appointment of the "Thursdays of Unitre", dedicated to "Dialectal Poetry of Franca Cavallo in the Wake of Tradition", hosted in Modica in the Main Hall of the State Professional Institute "Principi Grimaldi".

The meeting recorded a large and participatory attendance, with flattering feedback from the audience.

After the greeting, the presentation, and the introductory speech by the president of the local branch of the University of the Third Age, Enzo Cavallo, the poetess Franca Cavallo thanked for the hospitality and inaugurated the evening with the reading of "Sicilia… terra biniritta".

Following this, the Unitre Choir of Modica, directed by teacher Claudia Perrone and accompanied on the accordion by professor Giovanni Rosa, performed the anthem of Sicily "Terra Madre".

As per the program, poetess Silvana Blandino introduced the work of Franca Cavallo, who then presented a selection of her texts, interspersed with musical inserts by Giovanni Rosa on the accordion.

In addition to the opening piece dedicated to Sicily, the author read: “Rivuordi”, “Rumani to cuntu”, “U tilaru”, “Primu amuri”, “Ora ca sta scurannu”, “Iu era la to stidda”, “Figgi lontani”, “Risbigghiu”, “Stramuntata”, “Nuddu cchiù s’arricogghi a la scurata”, “A musica ra campagna”, “Macari gn’juornu”, “Ddà unni ’u cielu cari” (addressed to the children of Gaza), “Vientu”, “A vita è sulu ’n’opera ri pupi”.

Particular consensus was generated by the satirical-ironical compositions, in which, deviating from more common themes, the author explores the physiology of everyday behaviors, among seemingly minimal details that reveal characters and postures of the soul: “Facciola”, “Lingui priculusi”, “Lapardera”, “Mi fingiu pazza”, “A via ri l’Acitu”.

“These are poems that follow the tradition” – emphasized Franca Cavallo – collecting the legacy of poets who preceded us: poets from a more distant past like Carlo Amore or closer to our time like Elio Galfo and Meno Assenza: masters of those who love to write in the Modican dialect. In a fluid society in constant evolution where linguistic contamination, especially with the English language, occurs rapidly in the immediacy of modern communication, the dialect risks disappearing. Dialectal poetry arises precisely from this awareness: from the need to keep alive a language that carries with it centuries of history, of peoples, of encounters, of dominations. In a world that runs and standardizes, the dialect distinguishes us, reminds us who we are, and gives us back our roots.”