Filastrocca di Capodanno - by Gianni Rodari

Gianni Rodari (Omegna, October 23, 1920 - Rome, 14 April 1980) was an Italian writer, educator, journalist and poet. The 1970 Winner of the prestigious "Hans Christian Andersen Award", he was a master of the "fantastic" theme and a great inventor of stories.

His books for children have been translated into many languages. Among his world-famous creations, "Le avventure di Cipollino", a children's novel where the characters are fruits and vegetables, written in 1951.

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Filastrocca di Capodanno:
fammi gli auguri per tutto l'anno:
voglio un gennaio col sole d'aprile,
un luglio fresco, un marzo gentile;

New Year's nursery rhyme:
wish me well all year round:
I want a January with the April sun,
a cool July, a kind March;

voglio un giorno senza sera,
voglio un mare senza bufera;
voglio un pane sempre fresco,
sul cipresso il fiore del pesco;

I want a day without night,
I want a sea without storm;
I want always fresh bread,
on the cypress a peach flower;

che siano amici il gatto e il cane,
che diano latte le fontane.
Se voglio troppo, non darmi niente,
dammi una faccia allegra solamente.

that may the cat and the dog be friends,
may fountains give milk.
If I want too much, give me nothing,
give me only a cheerful face.