Oh Blessed Mother,
what must we do
to go back to Sicily?
I hide in my house.
I hide in my children.
Where is my doll by the door?
The one I sat outside to receive the sun?
What has happened?
Where will my babies go?
I am so tired.
Where are my sisters?
They would share my burden.
Help me with the children.
I miss my mother.
Where is she?
We left her with her stone.
Who cuts away the weeds now?
Who tends to her on your holy days?
Save my soul!
I wash my babies.
They are clean and holy.
They play and I protect their souls,
to bring them to you free of sin.
But it is so hard Blessed Mother.
I have only time for my prayers.
Only time to renounce my sin.
Try to protect my family and Antonio.
To find a little rest.
Did I bring that dolly with me?
No. No.
Why did I forget?
She was my joy of joys.
Little bundle of rags in the dust.
Little angel with her scrap of lace.
Where are the laces my mother had?
Oh, I wish I had a piece.
I would prepare a blanket from them
for my dolly.
I would not have to worry
how my children stray.
Why we ever came to this place.
I can hide in my house Blessed Mother.
I can keep the bastards out!
Why, oh why, were our beautiful
Sicilian men not enough?
Our beautiful girls?
Why did they marry Germans,
Irish?
I pray for their souls.
Someday Blessed Mother,
let me see the rooftops of my home again.
Let me see Papa return in his cart.
Let me hear the singing of my family.
Father, moving among us with his blessings.
The bread soaked in oil.
The good food.
The children of good Sicilian blood.
Antonio with the face of a boy again.
And my mother wrapping me
in her black shawl.
Forgive me Blessed Mother,
for I have sinned.
I will say the rosary
as often as I am able,
pure Mother of God.