Rummaging once again through so many papers as I move from one parish to another, I came across this poem in Roman dialect, whose author I do not remember, I do not remember who gave it to me by Claudio Baglioni (thanks to Milena “Carmela” Manghisi, who recognized it!). I find it a genuine expression of a simple person who receives the joy that comes from the Gospel, and I gladly reproduce it here (so I can also get rid of the paper without losing its contents!):
Jesus, dear brother
sold as a little souvenir
near the Colosseum or at the President’s side
in a denim outfit with a rifle
or with your name to kill people…
Jesus, my dear brother
what have they done to you
they slammed you onto a cross and then forgot you
and you were surely too good…
they told you to stay in heaven
thirsty for life, hungry for love
how many times you wept all alone
yet
we waited for you
we searched for you
we called out to you
we wanted you
we believed in you
and we found you, found you again
in the eyes of those who hope
in the wrinkles of those who grow old
in the festive Sundays
and in the pan of those who are alone
in the streets of those who drink
in the smiles of those who are mad
in the little hands of those being born
and on the knees of those who are praying.
in folk songs
and in the hunger of those who are hungry
and it was like getting our sight back after a thousand years
it was like discovering, farther on in the thick woods
the lost path
the lost path
it was like when the rain
suddenly, in summer, returns to the earth
it was like a day of peace
the first day of peace when the war is over
it was like when it gets dark
and the light goes on – and the light goes on
Jesus, dear brother, found again
stay beside us forever
and let’s sing together – let’s sing together
the joy of being alive
and let’s sing your immense words
You shall love your neighbor as yourself…