“Epigram for Wall street” is a poem attributed to Edgar Allan Poe, born on 19 January 1809
I’ll tell you a plan for gaining wealth,
Better than banking, trade or leases —
Take a bank note and fold it up,
And then you will find your money in creases!
This wonderful plan, without danger or loss,
Keeps your cash in your hands, where nothing can trouble it;
And every time that you fold it across,
‘Tis as plain as the light of the day that you double it
This poem was originally published in January 1845 in the “Evening Mirror” (New York), where Poe worked as critic and sub-editor, and it was later attributed to him.
The original title included the lower-case “s” in “street.”
It talks about losing money in banks and gives humorous advice on what to do with it. The epigram contains a brilliant example of word-play (“increases” and “in creases”) and it is amusing, which is not so frequent with Poe.

Epigramma per Wall street
Vi rivelerò un piano per aumentar profitti,
meglio di investimenti, commercio o affitti –
Se una banconota in due sarà piegata
la cifra sembrerà subito raddoppiata
Questo meraviglioso piano, privo di pericoli o passivi
terrà le banconote in mano vostra, senza rischi aggiuntivi
e ogni volta che le ripiegherete,
è chiaro come il sole che le raddoppierete.
(L.Z.)
NB: Anche se ho fatto una traduzione non molto rigorosa, al fine di mantenere la rima, mi è stato impossibile rendere il geniale gioco di parole dell’originale, in cui l’espressione “in creases” (con pieghe) letto in una sola parola diventa “increases” cioè aumenta.
Image: Wikimedia Commons – Stock Market Bull
Tradurre la poesia è sempre ostico, ma tu ci sai fare lo stesso! 🙂
LikeLiked by 3 people
Grazie, Alessandro: devo dire che mi piace farlo, e questa volta mi sono anche divertita 😘🙏😘
LikeLiked by 2 people
Si percepisce la tua passione 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
Reminds me of the old saying “The best way to double your money is fold it in half and put it in your wallet.” Thank you for sharing this poem and translation.
LikeLiked by 5 people
The gist of the poem is just that!
Thank you for your lovely feedback 🙏🌺🙏
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pretty cool find, Luisa. Thanks for sharing!
LikeLiked by 3 people
Thank you, Barbara, 🙏🙏🙏
As soon as I read this epigram, , among Poe’s poems, I though it was a delicioud gift for his birthday
LikeLike
Thank you for sharing this with us 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
I’m really glad to know you liked this epigram.
Thank you for letting me know 🙏🌹🙏🌹🙏
LikeLiked by 2 people
I remember seeing this bull on a visit to NYC. Given the superstition about rubbing its testicle for luck, it’s interesting in how burnished they’ve become.
The pun reminds me of an old joke: I used to be a banker, but then I lost interest.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Yes, I know about the superstition and, to tell you the truth, I did it, too 😉
In addition its creato, is an Italian-American artist, Arturo Di Modica, from Sicily,
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great fact! It’s an amazing piece, really looks like it’s in motion and charging.
LikeLiked by 2 people
You are right!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lovely wordplay!
LikeLiked by 2 people
🙏😊🙏😊🙏
LikeLiked by 1 person
Brilliant, Today I saw a Poe meme about autocorrect. Must be a day for Poe-try.
LikeLiked by 3 people
😀😀😀🧡🧡🧡
LikeLiked by 2 people
Déjà à cette époque !!!
Buona serata, Luisa.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Bonne soirée à toi! 😘😘😘
LikeLiked by 1 person
So 400,000 have died to save the market. That man was a bully. I hope Mr Biden’s inauguration does not unleash mad dogs.
LikeLike
[…] Epigram for Wall street 💸 — words and music and stories […]
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! 🙏🌹🙏
LikeLike
A tricky word-play, very amusing! Grazie mia cara Amica 😅👍🤗💖
LikeLiked by 1 person
Troppo gentile! You are too kind!
Grazie!!! 💙😘💙😘💙
LikeLiked by 1 person
🤗🤗🥰🌹❤
LikeLiked by 2 people
certi giochi di parole sono intraducibili in italiano salvo scrivere un poema. Quindi è meglio in questi casi tradurre riportando il senso della frase. Le poesie sono veramente ostiche
LikeLiked by 1 person
E’ proprio vero; la traduzione di una poesia comporta molte sfide, che a volte è emozionante accettare
LikeLiked by 1 person
però l’hai vinta la sfida
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙏😘🙏😘🙏
LikeLiked by 1 person
😀
LikeLiked by 2 people
Se ci si atttiene al rigore si perde la fragranza del costrutto in originale. Io avrei fatto come te.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Grazie Marzia cara!
Buon pomeriggio 😘😘😘
LikeLiked by 1 person
Molto bella! 🌷
LikeLiked by 1 person
Grazie!!! 🌹
LikeLike
Hai un blog qui su WordPress? 😊
LikeLike
Si:
nella mente e nel cuore
nellamentenelcuore.wordpress.com
Sono su questa piattaforma dal 2018, prima ero su Blogger. Ho aperto il mio blog dieci anni fa su Splinder, poi quando la piattaforma fu chiusa passai a blogger.
(può comparire sul mio sito le impostazioni del vecchio sito, ma è attivo solo questo su wordpress)
Grazie,ciao ☀️
LikeLiked by 1 person
Purtroppo il link qui indicato rimanda a un sito inesistente. Ti ho cercata e trovata su Google, e mi sono iscritta per non perdere i tuoi prossimi post. Se puoi, dovresti sistemare il link errato, così che tutti possano visualizzarti facilmente quando lasci dei commenti (ma non saprei suggerirti come fare), 🌹🌼🌹
Buon pomeriggio
LikeLike
(scusa gli errori)
LikeLike
Mi è stato detto ma devo proprio richiamare il tecnico, grazie ancora!
LikeLiked by 1 person
🌺🙏🌺🙏🌺
LikeLike
Revealed knowledge of Christ Jesus
faith and action is on now
blessed is he that did not see but believed good day madam St Lucia Catholic Church Jankawa zone 5 is committed to prayer that change live both the poor and the handicap in the society but lack finance that can run it expected facilities so we are out here looking for help please help us to spread the information also connect Us where we can get help Acct Information St Lucia Catholic church Jankanwa zone 5 3680012908 Eco Bank call or send text to 09034907430 for more details Just now
LikeLiked by 2 people
Conosco bene il poema! Sono un fan di Poe e quindi conosco alcuni dei poemi attribuiti a lui. In ogni caso hai fatto una traduzione ottima. Certo il gioco di parole si perde inevitabilmente ma il ritmo è perfetto.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Grazie di cuore! Il tuo apprezzamento mi dà molta gioia
Buona domenica🌹🌹🌹
LikeLike