By A Swimming Pool Outside Syracusa
All afternoon I have been struggling to communicate in Italian with Roberto and Giuseppe, who have begun to resemble the two male characters in my Italian for Beginners, the ones who are always shopping or inquiring about the times of trains, and now I can hardly speak or write English.
poem by Billy Collins
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Related quotes
We were raised in an Italian-American household, although we didn't speak Italian in the house. We were very proud of being Italian, and had Italian music, ate Italian food.
quote by Francis Ford Coppola
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Italian Pride
pride… Italian pride is on my mind Italian pride is in my kind so step aside and let me through because its all about the Italian crew. Italian love is all around my fellow Italian people will never let me down so show your pride and show its true so show your pride and show its true because Italian blood follows through out you united we stand divide we fall you can shoot one Italian but you cant shoot us all we are Italian we are full of class mess with us we will kick your ass be true loud and proud to be Italian.
poem by Stephanie Testalamuta
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Touch Of Class
oh well, i hear you
speak english to your dogs
spanish to the maids
and french to your business partners
on the phone,
you write your poems in german
your essays in portuguese
your menu posted on the ref in italian
cultured, educated, that is you
with a touch of class
but for one thing
now that you have fallen
drowning in the sea
oh gosh, you do not even
know how to swim!
let your language save you then.
poem by Ric S. Bastasa
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Augustine My Great Friend
Augustine who is from another planet far away,
came to live in Minnesota one day.
City of Bemidji he did stay when young,
I never met him there for he was already gone.
He moved to New Jersey where I am from.
I didn't meet him there either,
but soon I would meet him in the sunshine state.
He has a friendly smile and good taste.
Augustine knows Spanish and he can play the guitar,
he lived in South America which is quite far.
He taught English to the military there,
he was a great teacher, even though students
fell asleep sitting in their chairs.
Augustine bought me a great Twianese brunch,
which tasted great for a lunch.
Augustine is a great friend,
he bought me some groceries when my job did end.
Augustine is a great chef,
he is Italian so he knows Italian dinners the best.
Can't wait to taste his Italian cuisine,
more fun times with Augustine.
Written By Suzae Chevalier on February 10,2012
poem by Suzae Chevalier
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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I just remembered songs my grandmother taught me, and songs that I learned for the recordings. But, then I learned to speak Italian. When I was there, I hired a professor who stayed with me 24 hours a day. She wouldn't let me speak a word of English.
quote by Connie Francis
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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As a matter of fact, I've been to Italy many times before I met my husband, which he can't even imagine that I could possibly know anything about Italian food. But, you know, Italian food's really basic, and there's so many different variations on it that what my husband did is he broke it down for me.
quote by Debi Mazar
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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I love the Italian culture, it's a beautiful culture. I love the language, the Italian people, their music, their attitudes...I just love it! Sometimes I think I'm an Italian trapped in a Spanish woman's body.
quote by Penelope Cruz
Submitted by Veronica Serbanoiu
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yes, what if God does not speak english at all?
you were not born yesterday
and probably heard it before
that if your God does not speak english
then he must not be God
of course, something arrogant
hangs in the air
of this effortless superiority that
'englishers'
'english-plongplangs'
clai m, which, of course, we
always oppose and dub
as prettry dumb silly
but anyhow, yes, we are asked again
what if?
what if, this God, does not really speak English?
well, of course, he is still God
and he must not have considered the english language
that important
and i agree, even if i speak it,
i still have this language
of my soul,
albeit, in english, for you,
who does not speak my own language,
yes, of course, for you to perhaps
understand,
but i like it though, this thought
that God does not speak
the english language, lest, he may sound
so englishly, oh well,
arrogant.....
dear God
do you really...not speak english?
poem by Ric S. Bastasa
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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I wasn't speaking a word of Italian until I was 18. They had to dub my voice in my first Italian picture!
quote by Claudia Cardinale
Submitted by Veronica Serbanoiu
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There are lots of wonderful old Italian actors. You don't need to take an Egyptian to play an Italian actor.
quote by Omar Sharif
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The passion of the Italian or the Italian-American population is endless for food and lore and everything about it.
quote by Mario Batali
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The only problem was that I couldn't communicate with Dario. He speaks Italian and I don't. We had a translator the whole time. I just felt that something was lost with the go between. He was a delightful man, but I wish we could have spoken the same language.
quote by Kim Hunter
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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I have no Italian in me. I'm Cuban, Greek, Romanian, and Sephardic Jew, so I couldn't get further from Italian. But I guess I've been adopted into that family, too.
quote by Jamie-Lynn Sigler
Submitted by Veronica Serbanoiu
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To a weaving that has begun, God sends threads.
Shopping
Were buying and selling your history
How we go about it is no mystery
We check it with the city, then change the law
Are you looking forward?
Now you want some more
Were s-h-o-pp-i-n-g, were shopping
Its easy when you got all the information
Inside help, no investigation
(no investigation, investigation)
No questions in the house, no give and take
Theres a big bang in the city
Were all on the make
Were s-h-o-pp-i-n-g, were shopping
Were s-h-o-pp-i-n-g, were shopping
Our gain is your loss, thats the price you pay
I heard it in the house of commons: everythings for sale
Were shopping
Were shopping
Were s-h-o-pp-i-n-g, were shopping
Were s-h-o-pp-i-n-g, were shopping
Ah ah ah, ah ah ah, ah ah ah, ah ah
Ah ah ah, ah ah ah, ah ah ah, ah ah
Were s-h-o-pp-i-n-g, were shopping
Were s-h-o-pp-i-n-g, were shopping
(were shopping
Were shopping
Were shopping
Were shopping
Were shopping)
song performed by by Pet Shop Boys
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Italian Girls
Music and lyrics: oates
I see I see I see all the monumental ruinization
I see I see I see the greatest works of art in western civilization
Ooh but where are
Tell me where are
Ooh but where are the italian girls?
I drink I drink I drink too much vino rosso no more amarone
I eat I eat I eat so much pasta basta Im so full and yet so lonely
Ooh but where are
Tell me where are
Ooh but where are the italian girls?
I see sophia on the silver screena
There must be more like her in roma
I believe I believe I believe in la donna italiana belissima
I need, I need, I need some little dream come true please tell me where
Theyre keeping ya
Faccia bella cara mia
Somebody tell me where are the italian girls
song performed by by Hall & Oates
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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