Ricordo di una Nonna

Nonna, i tuoi capelli bianchi raccontano una storia:
la tua, quella di mia madre… e infine la mia.
Ogni filo è saggezza, ogni filo è il tuo dolore,
una perdita che porti come un fardello della vita vissuta.

Ogni filo è gioia, è il tuo tenero sguardo,
è il tuo sorriso, la felicità di essere nonna.

Con le tue mani rugose, hai tenuto le mie,
e mi hai insegnato a vivere, a ridere e a piangere.
Con i tuoi occhi stanchi, hai visto il mondo cambiare,
la tecnologia avanzare, i tempi mutare.

E hai imparato ad adattarti, a essere forte,
a sperare in un futuro migliore per noi.

La tua saggezza è un dono, un tesoro prezioso;
le tue favole mi hanno insegnato a credere.
Tutto ciò che mi hai trasmesso con amore e cura
lo conservo nella mente come un splendido diamante.

Grazie, nonna, per essere stata al mio fianco
nei momenti critici.
Per avermi amata e protetta,
per avermi fatto sentire sicura.

Sai? Mi manca accarezzarti i capelli,
baciare le tue guance, stringerti in un abbraccio
al tuo cuore ❤️, nonna.

Zaira Sellerio

Memory of a Grandmother

Grandmother, your white hair tells a story:
yours, my mother’s… and finally mine.
Each strand is wisdom, each strand is your pain,
a loss you carry like a burden of a life lived.

Each strand is joy, it is your tender gaze,
it is your smile, the happiness of being a grandmother.

With your wrinkled hands, you held mine,
and taught me how to live, to laugh, and to cry.
With your tired eyes, you have seen the world change,
technology advance, times transform.

And you have learned to adapt, to be strong,
to hope for a better future for us.

Your wisdom is a gift, a precious treasure;
your tales taught me to believe.
Everything you have given me with love and care
I keep in my mind like a splendid diamond.

Thank you, grandmother, for being by my side
in critical moments.
For loving and protecting me,
for making me feel safe.

You know? I miss stroking your hair,
kissing your cheeks, holding you in an embrace
to your heart ❤️, grandmother.

Zaira Sellerio

Review

The poem “Memory of a Grandmother” by Zaira Sellerio is a delicate and moving tribute to the unique bond between grandmother and grandchild. With simple yet deeply evocative language, the author manages to convey an intimate, almost tangible affection, made of memory, gratitude, and unconditional love.

The image of white hair, strand by strand, as guardians of wisdom and pain, opens the poem with a powerful metaphor that unites past and present, intertwining generations. The work thus becomes a reflection on memory, the transmission of values, and the continuity of life through lived experiences.

Sellerio uses a poetic narrative style that alternates sweetness and depth: from the wrinkled hands holding those of the granddaughter, to the strength in adapting to changes, up to the final verse, imbued with nostalgia and love. The intimate and personal ending transforms the poem into an open letter, capable of moving any reader.

“Memory of a Grandmother” is not just a poem about the maternal figure, but an ode to memory, resilience, and the precious gift of family love. A text that stays in the heart, like a lasting embrace.

The autumn of my time, the spring of yours

Grandparents’ day: origins and meaning

Grandparents’ Day is an occasion dedicated to celebrating the fundamental role of grandparents in the family and in society. In Italy, it is celebrated every year on October 2nd, a date chosen also because it coincides with the Feast of the Guardian Angels, a symbol of protection and guidance. The celebration was officially established in Italy in 2005 with Law No. 159, to honor the emotional, educational, and cultural contribution that grandparents offer to new generations.

It is not a universal celebration: although similar days exist in other countries, the date and customs vary. For example, in the United States, Grandparents’ Day falls on the first Sunday of September, while in other countries it may be celebrated on different dates or not officially recognized.

Some awards for her work

• National Poetry Prize “Arturo Massimi” in October 1999, Mentana – Rome.

• Plaque for the narrative prize at the international competition “Pelosa” in Messina, November 2000.

• Poetry plaque awarded by the Province of Rome, October 2000.

• International Competition “Antonio de Curtis” in Rome.

• Poets and Society Prize, German-Swiss delegation (international competition, honorable mention).

• Unpublished Poetry Prize, 5th edition of the “L’attualità – Bartolucci” prize, finalist diploma, October 27, 2001.

• International Artistic-Literary Competition “Antonio de Curtis – Totò,” Rome, October 22, 2002.

• ALIAS (Italian-Australian Writers’ Academy, in collaboration with C.R.A.S.E.S. in Palermo).

• International Literary Competition, 3rd ex-aequo poetry prize, October 10, 2003.

• First Poetry Prize at the “Il Salotto dell’Arte” gallery, Rome, March 22, 2009.

• “A Life for Culture” Prize, “Il Salotto dell’Arte” gallery, Rome.

• 4th International Literary Prize “Europa” for the novel From the Depths of the Heart, May 11, 2014, Lugano.

• 2nd Navarro Prize for the novel From the Depths of the Heart, May 13, 2018, Sambuca di Sicilia – Sicily.

• Special Lilly Broggi Prize “La Pergola Arte” for the novel From the Depths of the Heart, Florence, October 27, 2018.

• 5th Prize for the novel From the Depths of the Heart at Versilia Club “Massa, Fairy-Tale City of Sea and Marble,” September 28, 2019.

• 1st International Prize dedicated to the female universe “Donne d’Amore” V. Barrett, poetry section for “On the Steps of Piazza di Spagna.”

• 1st Prize for the literature section – novel, for the text Courage Is Female, Rome, May 22, 2023.

• Poetry Prize “At Your Feet,” city of Mercogliano (AV), for the poem “And There I Met My Mother,” September 8, 2024.

• 11th Edition San Valentino Prize – City of Atripalda (AV) – Cupido World Wide Section, for the poem “Ich habe dich geliebt” (I Loved You), April 26–27, 2025.