Janmatî Declara
Janmatî Declara studied philosophy in Trento. After studying at the seminary in Bressanone, he was ordained as a priest. In terms of Ladin culture, Declara was Val Badia’s most important person of note in the second half of the 19th century. His works include poetry and translations of ecclesiastical nature – his translation of Santa Genofefa is famous for being the first printed book published in Ladin – as well as secular prose and short stories. He died in 1884 in Pieve di Marebbe, where he was dean and school inspector.
Janmatî Declara
Moling Marianna in Spessa
Se l’ega salta allegra
Inanter so canal
Se godra bella segra
A degungn’ i fesc’ la mal
Allegra siste tou
De bona vouia assà
Bell vire arrast’ ingsou
E i allegri, chi’è amà
Mo ciara, ch’l allegria
Ne passe via ‘l zil
Che spo t’ diʒessung ria,
Foss’ fora spo la mil
J. Declara, Sonetti per scolari che hanno recitato la Dottrina in ladino, 1860–1867, La Valle
R. Bernardi, P.Videsott, 2014, Geschichte der ladinischen Literatur; bu,press, Bolzano