Specchio

Specchio, ricordo di te,
occhi d’amore che si guardavano,
ora sei andata, non ci sei più,
e il mio cuore è pesante come un sasso.

I giorni passano lenti,
aspetto il tempo che non torna,
giorni felici nella mia mente,
ma il tuo cuore non batte più.

L’alba nasce e muore nel mio cuore,
rubando ore al giorno,
cerco un’ombra che mi accarezzi,
che mi asciughi le lacrime del cuore.

Sei andata via, come l’estate,
e mi è rimasto l’inverno nel cuore,
so che non tornerai più,
e il mio cuore è perso senza te.

Mi guardo allo specchio,
e affiora il ricordo di te,
occhi d’amore che mi guardano,
che non vedrò mai più.

Zaira Sellerio

Mirror

Mirror, I remember you,
eyes of love that looked at each other,
now you are gone, you are no longer here,
and my heart is heavy like a stone.

The days pass slowly,
I wait for the time that will not return,
happy days in my mind,
but your heart beats no more.

The dawn rises and dies in my heart,
stealing hours from the day,
I look for a shadow to caress me,
to dry the tears of my heart.

You went away, like summer,
and winter remained in my heart,
I know you will never return,
and my heart is lost without you.

I look at myself in the mirror,
and the memory of you emerges,
eyes of love that gaze at me,
that I will never see again.

Zaira Sellerio

Review

The poem is permeated by an intense sense of nostalgia and a profound feeling of love and loss. The theme is universal and immediately recognizable, touching deep emotional chords in the reader.

The images are powerful and evocative: expressions such as “my heart is heavy like a stone” and “You went away like summer, and winter remained in my heart” strongly convey pain and absence, transforming the external world into a reflection of inner emotions. The repetition of elements such as the mirror and the “eyes of love” creates an echo effect that reinforces memory and emotional intensity.

The poem maintains extraordinary emotional coherence, guiding the reader from nostalgic remembrance to the awareness of loss with delicacy and depth. The natural rhythm of the verses accompanies the sentiment without haste, allowing the emotion to fully emerge.

Overall, the poem powerfully conveys both the pain and the sweetness of memories, making the reading experience intense and engaging. The images and feelings remain impressed in the mind, leaving a lasting mark in the reader’s heart.

Some recognitions for her works

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.