looked out the window, checked the weather
then off to the market by the Vatican train station
returned home once for umbrellas,
weather from the window can be deceiving
then out again to that outdoor market under partial awnings
to get the names of ingredients in a vegetable mixture
a wonderful assortment of greens we bought yesterday
and now want to duplicate ourselves
careful now, we don’t want to duplicate ourselves
just that mixture of greens, stay with me
now home where M. is reading of old Roma
Bernini getting an obelisk in 1636
it nearly went to a collector in England
ended instead at Piazza Navona
M. reads aloud while i wonder
what note i didn’t jot down this morning,
rolled over in bed instead of getting up,
another idea lost to the ages
now hail is falling this afternoon
i didn’t have to say falling on the outside
cause i know now you’re reading carefully
aren’t we about finished?
can i take a nap?
wait, commotion down below
a fight broke outside
must be thirty-five people out there
it’s franco’s family, all of them
and friends and onlookers,
the usually sedate wife too, screaming
Manuale beat his uncle with a stick
three cop cars pulled in and broke it up
little Manuale split before they got there
he's the little prick who set off a half stick of dynamite
on new years eve in campo dei fiori
another day in paradiso
Saturday, January 09, 2010
Friday, January 08, 2010
beam me
years ago there was a TV commercial
that said – bite me brother,
i’m a chunky
that was a candy bar commercial
that got laughed off the air
and went the way of
free willy
now,
back to now again
i saw three separate ladies
naturally they were separate
there were three of them
it wasn’t a tricycide
or a threeoid
one, two and the other one
not together
just shopping where I could see
absoluteway, there were three
women fortyish
they each wore blue jeans
that is the thing, the jeans
now,
twenty brief years ago
not now twenty ,
then twenty
well, they weren’t brief years either
just seemed that way
say zip
way back then,
there were no supermarkets in Roma
just open markets and small stores
that brief time ago the women
would have worn dresses
and their aunts,
and their sisters,
and Uncle Henry - uncle Henry? what the hell
get him out of . . . oh, he was just trying it on
and the next door neighbors
and their cousins
and their mothers
the lot of them
but now
it’s all blue jeans, TV and cell phones
a new world, baby
paper or plastic?
so beam me
somewhere, please
it’s your pick
i’m set
my jeans are packed
i’m ready to go
ciao ciao, john denver
see ya'roun, clownie
that said – bite me brother,
i’m a chunky
that was a candy bar commercial
that got laughed off the air
and went the way of
free willy
now,
back to now again
i saw three separate ladies
naturally they were separate
there were three of them
it wasn’t a tricycide
or a threeoid
one, two and the other one
not together
just shopping where I could see
absoluteway, there were three
women fortyish
they each wore blue jeans
that is the thing, the jeans
now,
twenty brief years ago
not now twenty ,
then twenty
well, they weren’t brief years either
just seemed that way
say zip
way back then,
there were no supermarkets in Roma
just open markets and small stores
that brief time ago the women
would have worn dresses
and their aunts,
and their sisters,
and Uncle Henry - uncle Henry? what the hell
get him out of . . . oh, he was just trying it on
and the next door neighbors
and their cousins
and their mothers
the lot of them
but now
it’s all blue jeans, TV and cell phones
a new world, baby
paper or plastic?
so beam me
somewhere, please
it’s your pick
i’m set
my jeans are packed
i’m ready to go
ciao ciao, john denver
see ya'roun, clownie
Thursday, January 07, 2010
2010
i read on Andy’s blog
he is going from two thousand and whatever
to twenty ten, stream lining,
coming of age, me too then
nineteen something
was an old man on a crutch
twenty ten is a compact
with lubricated hinges
i’m stepping lighter already
head up, walking tall
come on down the line, new year
i’m unpacked and ready for it all
no technician has to fix it
Mr. Modern Guy has got it all(that's me)
all I need's a Chinese restaurant calendar
on the refrigerator or the bathroom wall
he is going from two thousand and whatever
to twenty ten, stream lining,
coming of age, me too then
nineteen something
was an old man on a crutch
twenty ten is a compact
with lubricated hinges
i’m stepping lighter already
head up, walking tall
come on down the line, new year
i’m unpacked and ready for it all
no technician has to fix it
Mr. Modern Guy has got it all(that's me)
all I need's a Chinese restaurant calendar
on the refrigerator or the bathroom wall
Wednesday, January 06, 2010
hoppng along
hopping along
this little bird
quickly sorting, checking
for what’s edible, i suppose
doesn’t turns it’s head
to look at me, keeps working
of no concern, although near
i’m not worth a glance
in this world, on this edge
who sees reality
and how much is apparent
to the bird or to me?
this little bird
quickly sorting, checking
for what’s edible, i suppose
doesn’t turns it’s head
to look at me, keeps working
of no concern, although near
i’m not worth a glance
in this world, on this edge
who sees reality
and how much is apparent
to the bird or to me?
Tuesday, January 05, 2010
cold, wet january humanity
bused to Piazza Barberini
to our car insurance office
to see what we pay this year
where nothing is easy
took forty minutes
this afternoon a friend
will try online
to find a lower cost
stopped for lunch at Pasquali’s
sat at the common table
with the headcount
chatted with the regulars
the driver from the Maltese embassy,
another regular is curtain maker
for Rupert Murdock,
someone said i was a retired actor
so i mentioned working with Francis Coppola
Italians like to hear of Italians in Hollywood
and old folk drop names to keep face
at the common table
numerous they are
on varying paths and stages
through this maze
of humanity
Rupert Murdock’s curtain maker
i liked that, worth repeating,
first to my friend Bill who for forty years
has cooked for various embassy events
to our car insurance office
to see what we pay this year
where nothing is easy
took forty minutes
this afternoon a friend
will try online
to find a lower cost
stopped for lunch at Pasquali’s
sat at the common table
with the headcount
chatted with the regulars
the driver from the Maltese embassy,
another regular is curtain maker
for Rupert Murdock,
someone said i was a retired actor
so i mentioned working with Francis Coppola
Italians like to hear of Italians in Hollywood
and old folk drop names to keep face
at the common table
numerous they are
on varying paths and stages
through this maze
of humanity
Rupert Murdock’s curtain maker
i liked that, worth repeating,
first to my friend Bill who for forty years
has cooked for various embassy events
Monday, January 04, 2010
two day review
I.
sun bright
cold light
quiet Sunday
gentle anticipation in the air
saturates the walking gentry
tasting environs
II.
Monday contending
cool light winter rain
a light charcoal gray street sheen
umbrellas out for an airing
no hurry day people
all walking with care
cobblestones are slippery
sun bright
cold light
quiet Sunday
gentle anticipation in the air
saturates the walking gentry
tasting environs
II.
Monday contending
cool light winter rain
a light charcoal gray street sheen
umbrellas out for an airing
no hurry day people
all walking with care
cobblestones are slippery
Sunday, January 03, 2010
horses
on Sundays Carabinieri in formal uniforms
patrol the center on their mounts
a morning treat to see
as old church bells toll the hour
upon waking we hear them,
look down from our window to see the slow passing,
two mounted officers ambled along
the stone narrow cobblestone way
the scene brings a warmth to my heart
in nostalgic alluring beckons of clip-clop
a connection with another age
to this sunny peaceful Sunday beginning
patrol the center on their mounts
a morning treat to see
as old church bells toll the hour
upon waking we hear them,
look down from our window to see the slow passing,
two mounted officers ambled along
the stone narrow cobblestone way
the scene brings a warmth to my heart
in nostalgic alluring beckons of clip-clop
a connection with another age
to this sunny peaceful Sunday beginning
Saturday, January 02, 2010
up predawn
up predawn
and i like it
nothing is going on
the ringing in my ears is me
straining to hear something
when i open the window
i swear i hear sweet dampness
on grey stone walls
from overnight rain
the city sound is not a hum
it's near rain dripping
humidity from damp January
there, a church bell
counting seven
not that early now
it took a while to start writing this
got up an hour an a half ago
arranged engravings on the wall
set the lights a new way
played the piano and got into it
don’t get excited, it’s only improvisation
quiet, dramatic, eclectic, i take my time
musically looking into how i feel
how it sounds to me
what i can imagine
headphones, electric piano
used audience concert hall settings
so it sounded large to me, distant
but all was quiet in the room, not disturbing
she is asleep in the other room
gray and white gulls on roof tops down the way
off a few blocks
or could be over the river
i haven’t been out at this hour to see if they’re flying
or just sitting above somewhere conferring
a friend used to tell me how much gulls and pigeons bothered him
always making noise
he lived above all
and i envied the light he had, the view
i can only imagine
this building is empty, only she and i
thinking of the top floor
i’d like to take a look from there
roma, the church tops, far hills and obelisks
the sky change, pale dawn light
i can only imagine
first light now, sky change
up there
while here it is mid street
half way up
between buildings
mostly quiet at this hour
make that very quiet,
i have to listen carefully
to sort the emptiness
to think of things to hear at this hour
there, the dragging of a suitcase over the cobblestones
now that reminded me of old times
early morning hand carts of the market vendors
taking out their carts from storage areas
beginning in pre dawn
but that was twenty years ago
now they start much later,
fewer in number
the market is fading in the advent of supermarkets
a door closed somewhere up the street
the only hum of the city is from the refrigerator
some voices talking down the way
it starts slowly, another day
building blocks in the story of the ages
i'll make coffee now
day has begun
and i like it
nothing is going on
the ringing in my ears is me
straining to hear something
when i open the window
i swear i hear sweet dampness
on grey stone walls
from overnight rain
the city sound is not a hum
it's near rain dripping
humidity from damp January
there, a church bell
counting seven
not that early now
it took a while to start writing this
got up an hour an a half ago
arranged engravings on the wall
set the lights a new way
played the piano and got into it
don’t get excited, it’s only improvisation
quiet, dramatic, eclectic, i take my time
musically looking into how i feel
how it sounds to me
what i can imagine
headphones, electric piano
used audience concert hall settings
so it sounded large to me, distant
but all was quiet in the room, not disturbing
she is asleep in the other room
gray and white gulls on roof tops down the way
off a few blocks
or could be over the river
i haven’t been out at this hour to see if they’re flying
or just sitting above somewhere conferring
a friend used to tell me how much gulls and pigeons bothered him
always making noise
he lived above all
and i envied the light he had, the view
i can only imagine
this building is empty, only she and i
thinking of the top floor
i’d like to take a look from there
roma, the church tops, far hills and obelisks
the sky change, pale dawn light
i can only imagine
first light now, sky change
up there
while here it is mid street
half way up
between buildings
mostly quiet at this hour
make that very quiet,
i have to listen carefully
to sort the emptiness
to think of things to hear at this hour
there, the dragging of a suitcase over the cobblestones
now that reminded me of old times
early morning hand carts of the market vendors
taking out their carts from storage areas
beginning in pre dawn
but that was twenty years ago
now they start much later,
fewer in number
the market is fading in the advent of supermarkets
a door closed somewhere up the street
the only hum of the city is from the refrigerator
some voices talking down the way
it starts slowly, another day
building blocks in the story of the ages
i'll make coffee now
day has begun
Friday, January 01, 2010
the New Year in Rome
few buses were out
walked to forum then up Via Cavour
more or less, had a bus part way
we thought of riding to the end of the line
good thing we didn’t take a long pleasant ride
buses stopped after noon,
we would have been stuck
we’ve done that before
as it was, we went to a fine Indian restaurant
we agreed it was better than our Christmas meal
had curried spinach, chicken and rice
entertainment was a bit overpowering
singing and dancing full volume
on a TV video
near Piazza Vittorio
if you care to find it look for it by name
seek an establishment called Indian Fast Food
M. broke two forks that were quickly replaced
at no extra charge
they don’t make plastic like in the old days
no buses after, not a car
or a truck, a motorbike, bicycle or taxi
we walked the alleys back, way back
down hill, way down
then flat on home
it was very, very far
stopped at Saint Pietro in Chains
to see Michelangelo’s statue Moses
seventy people were patiently waiting to get in
but the church was closed
we saw written in Italian what the tourists didn’t
that the church was on closed on holiday schedule
it is fine to exercise a bit after a meal
weather had turned to cold and rain
no traffic,
only many wandering tourists
all on foot
waiting for non existent transportation
we found it too windy to use our umbrella
walked to forum then up Via Cavour
more or less, had a bus part way
we thought of riding to the end of the line
good thing we didn’t take a long pleasant ride
buses stopped after noon,
we would have been stuck
we’ve done that before
as it was, we went to a fine Indian restaurant
we agreed it was better than our Christmas meal
had curried spinach, chicken and rice
entertainment was a bit overpowering
singing and dancing full volume
on a TV video
near Piazza Vittorio
if you care to find it look for it by name
seek an establishment called Indian Fast Food
M. broke two forks that were quickly replaced
at no extra charge
they don’t make plastic like in the old days
no buses after, not a car
or a truck, a motorbike, bicycle or taxi
we walked the alleys back, way back
down hill, way down
then flat on home
it was very, very far
stopped at Saint Pietro in Chains
to see Michelangelo’s statue Moses
seventy people were patiently waiting to get in
but the church was closed
we saw written in Italian what the tourists didn’t
that the church was on closed on holiday schedule
it is fine to exercise a bit after a meal
weather had turned to cold and rain
no traffic,
only many wandering tourists
all on foot
waiting for non existent transportation
we found it too windy to use our umbrella
Thursday, December 31, 2009
blue moon end of december
out late morning walking
to Trastevere in sleeveless vest, no jacket
warm yellow weather carressing my shoulders
why has winter gone hiding in wait?
light clouds, turning, whirling
in bright sky blue
i squint toward the sun
gull on wing over the river
crossed my favorite old stone bridge
exchanged hi and smiles to the Sunday accordionist
on Ponte Sisto working early this week
in preparation for the holiday
at the corner by the gray church
Giacomo calls down from his balcony
went up to his place for coffee
his son James there but for a minute
always in motion planning
returning toward home
along Lungo Tevere
blurring traffic running in tandem
ten thousand destinations
patiently moving in saunter
no blasting crush today
folks on foot in good number
treading in passing
a hurry about them with no commotion
chatting in flocks
some solo on cell phones
clutching it to their ears
children on holiday drag along, skipping
the cannon at noon
thumps once on windows a mile away
a piece of pizza bread from the forno
to carry home, enjoy slowly
with greens and cheese
where from window open
over slow sipping coffee
church bells call the quarter hour
in the clangs i hear the undertone
telling all it is new years eve tonight
make good plans with friends ,
do it well now
the new year begins,
be ready,
stay alert
to celebrate departure of the old
and to welcome into being
the formidable, erratic circle of the new
to Trastevere in sleeveless vest, no jacket
warm yellow weather carressing my shoulders
why has winter gone hiding in wait?
light clouds, turning, whirling
in bright sky blue
i squint toward the sun
gull on wing over the river
crossed my favorite old stone bridge
exchanged hi and smiles to the Sunday accordionist
on Ponte Sisto working early this week
in preparation for the holiday
at the corner by the gray church
Giacomo calls down from his balcony
went up to his place for coffee
his son James there but for a minute
always in motion planning
returning toward home
along Lungo Tevere
blurring traffic running in tandem
ten thousand destinations
patiently moving in saunter
no blasting crush today
folks on foot in good number
treading in passing
a hurry about them with no commotion
chatting in flocks
some solo on cell phones
clutching it to their ears
children on holiday drag along, skipping
the cannon at noon
thumps once on windows a mile away
a piece of pizza bread from the forno
to carry home, enjoy slowly
with greens and cheese
where from window open
over slow sipping coffee
church bells call the quarter hour
in the clangs i hear the undertone
telling all it is new years eve tonight
make good plans with friends ,
do it well now
the new year begins,
be ready,
stay alert
to celebrate departure of the old
and to welcome into being
the formidable, erratic circle of the new
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
mid week
cloudy dark rainy cool mid week
our lane up and down
more than a hundred yards end to end
and thousands of years back to the beginning
our building rooted five hundred years ago
yet there are far older for sure
nearby is a building from the twelfth century
painted, cracked and redone countless times
the old salt road of pre time is nearby
how far have the old ones gone?
tonight night lights are few along the way
all is still, even breeze so light
buses are resting
cabbies are reading, waiting, near sleeping
no one out this moment,
no one walking
no dog, no cat
through narrow alleys
silent dark walls, cobblestones
still puddles barely reflecting dark gray
can’t begin to imagine a part of
what has taken place
on this brief length of Roma
home to so many over the centuries
in fights, in love,
birth and death
chickens, cows, carts, pigs and horses
dogs and cats birds, bugs, and rats
soldiers, drunks, candles, thieves and beggars
papas, mamas, priests and nuns
singers, poets, police, officials, the dandies
and nobodies
most of all
plenty of no bodies at all
a treasure of life
that endures
our lane up and down
more than a hundred yards end to end
and thousands of years back to the beginning
our building rooted five hundred years ago
yet there are far older for sure
nearby is a building from the twelfth century
painted, cracked and redone countless times
the old salt road of pre time is nearby
how far have the old ones gone?
tonight night lights are few along the way
all is still, even breeze so light
buses are resting
cabbies are reading, waiting, near sleeping
no one out this moment,
no one walking
no dog, no cat
through narrow alleys
silent dark walls, cobblestones
still puddles barely reflecting dark gray
can’t begin to imagine a part of
what has taken place
on this brief length of Roma
home to so many over the centuries
in fights, in love,
birth and death
chickens, cows, carts, pigs and horses
dogs and cats birds, bugs, and rats
soldiers, drunks, candles, thieves and beggars
papas, mamas, priests and nuns
singers, poets, police, officials, the dandies
and nobodies
most of all
plenty of no bodies at all
a treasure of life
that endures
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
enough jack
there was jack london
and jack kennedy
course it started with
jack the baptist
i know they called him that
oh, yeah, i almost forgot where
i was gong with this
i’m changing my name
you can call me nabisco
it was either that or shell oil
i didn’t want to work to make my name famous
thought I’d start known and work down from there
my choice of name was made carefully
more than my parents did when they named me
late comer, number three
they already used their favorite boy name and the girl name
i was nine years later
lucky they didn’t call me the first thing out of their mouth
“You’re What?” or
“Holy Shit”
and jack kennedy
course it started with
jack the baptist
i know they called him that
oh, yeah, i almost forgot where
i was gong with this
i’m changing my name
you can call me nabisco
it was either that or shell oil
i didn’t want to work to make my name famous
thought I’d start known and work down from there
my choice of name was made carefully
more than my parents did when they named me
late comer, number three
they already used their favorite boy name and the girl name
i was nine years later
lucky they didn’t call me the first thing out of their mouth
“You’re What?” or
“Holy Shit”
Monday, December 28, 2009
bused up
bused up
on the little bus
to the hill over Rome
where the noon cannon is fired
ever since the pope back in 1847
wanted his churches to
all know what time it was,
at least once a day
a crowd gathered to hear it
the cannon is loud
wasn’t precisely noon
should have covered my ears
then walked warm weather down
to old Trastevere
where our new favorite restaurant
was tried and confirmed
while walking back traffic was stopped
a helicopter hovered overhead
we waited to watch
something was about to happen
one cop called it a VIP cortege coming by
his word not mine
some Italian cops are literate
glad to hear it, anytime
fifteen cars and as many motorcycle police
and more police afoot every corner
all the way home they go to the Vatican
because the pope king went out for lunch
event over, we walked home
didn’t stop traffic
and didn’t cause any trouble either
as we shuffled along, all the way home
my cell phone has a clock on it
i could have told anyone the time
but no one asked
they must have heard the cannon
on the little bus
to the hill over Rome
where the noon cannon is fired
ever since the pope back in 1847
wanted his churches to
all know what time it was,
at least once a day
a crowd gathered to hear it
the cannon is loud
wasn’t precisely noon
should have covered my ears
then walked warm weather down
to old Trastevere
where our new favorite restaurant
was tried and confirmed
while walking back traffic was stopped
a helicopter hovered overhead
we waited to watch
something was about to happen
one cop called it a VIP cortege coming by
his word not mine
some Italian cops are literate
glad to hear it, anytime
fifteen cars and as many motorcycle police
and more police afoot every corner
all the way home they go to the Vatican
because the pope king went out for lunch
event over, we walked home
didn’t stop traffic
and didn’t cause any trouble either
as we shuffled along, all the way home
my cell phone has a clock on it
i could have told anyone the time
but no one asked
they must have heard the cannon
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Saturday, December 26, 2009
if i could
if i could write each poem
as a precious drop
warm sparkling clear
i surely would
instead, with my back to the rock
surrounded, i reload ready to run
like Butch and Sundance
into freeze frame
as the great theme grows under
the credits roll on the screen
lights come on, people go home
with proud steps and good memories
when you’re in the game
you take the pieces you have
and create with them
the best you can
as a precious drop
warm sparkling clear
i surely would
instead, with my back to the rock
surrounded, i reload ready to run
like Butch and Sundance
into freeze frame
as the great theme grows under
the credits roll on the screen
lights come on, people go home
with proud steps and good memories
when you’re in the game
you take the pieces you have
and create with them
the best you can
Labels:
poems on poetry
Friday, December 25, 2009
vigilia, the night before christmas
rode with Roberto from the center
cross town to Parioli for Vigilia
eight thirty in the evening, no traffic
surreal tranquility in the city
more parking spaces than usual
many Romans are out of town
it seems even birds had flown
home to see the family
we wore light open jackets
on the evening of soft rain
unseasonably warm for Christmas
it was different to drive the city
without stop and go
no pressure from too many out there
a rare lazy meander across town
while at the Vatican the Pope was knocked down
some one was making a fuss
after dinner with Paola and Sandro
it was well after midnight
when outside the Vatican
workers had slipped the infant into the Nativity scene
as we departed our dinner with friends
in the same quiet we returned home
even buses had stopped running at nine p.m.
adding to city silence by the noise they left out
silent night, holy night
no snow, clouds over fields
no blue light from the Christmas star
drunks counting sugar plums asleep in doorways
even gypsies have taken holiday
cross town to Parioli for Vigilia
eight thirty in the evening, no traffic
surreal tranquility in the city
more parking spaces than usual
many Romans are out of town
it seems even birds had flown
home to see the family
we wore light open jackets
on the evening of soft rain
unseasonably warm for Christmas
it was different to drive the city
without stop and go
no pressure from too many out there
a rare lazy meander across town
while at the Vatican the Pope was knocked down
some one was making a fuss
after dinner with Paola and Sandro
it was well after midnight
when outside the Vatican
workers had slipped the infant into the Nativity scene
as we departed our dinner with friends
in the same quiet we returned home
even buses had stopped running at nine p.m.
adding to city silence by the noise they left out
silent night, holy night
no snow, clouds over fields
no blue light from the Christmas star
drunks counting sugar plums asleep in doorways
even gypsies have taken holiday
Thursday, December 24, 2009
electric bus
hopped on a whirring electric bus
that soon turned down an alley
then suddenly stopped stuck there
cause it couldn’t get by
a car was parked in that alley
protruding out into the lane
our way forward was finished
while cars packed us in from behind
a lot of horn honking ensued.
a quarter hour later the guy showed up
that got in that blue car, and then
like taking the lid off a pressure cooker
we sighed off our steam and all drove away
that soon turned down an alley
then suddenly stopped stuck there
cause it couldn’t get by
a car was parked in that alley
protruding out into the lane
our way forward was finished
while cars packed us in from behind
a lot of horn honking ensued.
a quarter hour later the guy showed up
that got in that blue car, and then
like taking the lid off a pressure cooker
we sighed off our steam and all drove away
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Natale is Christmas in Italian
preparations for Natale
now the day before
a good day to begin
bought a desert pie for the night before festa, Vigilia
with a physicist and two professors
who all love pi and pie and their wives
at Feltrinelli’s bought books for gifts
called Giacomo to compare notes
my Roman pal who is quick, alert and ready
his son Alex’s group is leaving now
to play for cash outside the bookstore
in the hum of street activity
said hi to Franco outside the store
his motor bike was stolen last week
didn't ask how he got there
closer to home
sat down for coffee at a table
outside Angelo’s coffee bar
intense people traffic
here they come
there they pass
a pigeon just got by an electric buses wheel
as I sipped coffee to a, look around,
a persistent subtle whining sound
it’s the dog under the next table
saying his piece without
moving his lips
and art show tonight, got ta go
crowds shopping now
all on alert, hurray the day
a woman comes buy
dressed like Pinocchio’s mother
Christmas is on the way
now the day before
a good day to begin
bought a desert pie for the night before festa, Vigilia
with a physicist and two professors
who all love pi and pie and their wives
at Feltrinelli’s bought books for gifts
called Giacomo to compare notes
my Roman pal who is quick, alert and ready
his son Alex’s group is leaving now
to play for cash outside the bookstore
in the hum of street activity
said hi to Franco outside the store
his motor bike was stolen last week
didn't ask how he got there
closer to home
sat down for coffee at a table
outside Angelo’s coffee bar
intense people traffic
here they come
there they pass
a pigeon just got by an electric buses wheel
as I sipped coffee to a, look around,
a persistent subtle whining sound
it’s the dog under the next table
saying his piece without
moving his lips
and art show tonight, got ta go
crowds shopping now
all on alert, hurray the day
a woman comes buy
dressed like Pinocchio’s mother
Christmas is on the way
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Alberto's car
his worn vintage car quit again
on the cold rainy road into Roma
no one in traffic stopped to assist
Alberto pushed it two hundred yards
then opened the hood
tapped the engine with a hammer
tried the motor again
this time it worked
proving that as with some people
now and then it’s a matter
of getting a machine’s
full attention
on the cold rainy road into Roma
no one in traffic stopped to assist
Alberto pushed it two hundred yards
then opened the hood
tapped the engine with a hammer
tried the motor again
this time it worked
proving that as with some people
now and then it’s a matter
of getting a machine’s
full attention
Monday, December 21, 2009
campo dei fiori
i know this campo
of flowers and markets
a circus in progress
many new faces in groups
slow walking and talking
some carrying sandwiches
now tourists Italian
all caps and dark warm jackets
slow passing non stop
through the piazza of Bruno
sun going down, lights coming on
many regulars out for the season
even beggars have rotated
near over the line, yet still in order
with just above freezing
no tickets or towing
cars, motorinos and bicycles
visible police and undercover
overflowing action no on can follow
too cold for mime or musicians
in season’s chill December
four days before Christmas
of flowers and markets
a circus in progress
many new faces in groups
slow walking and talking
some carrying sandwiches
now tourists Italian
all caps and dark warm jackets
slow passing non stop
through the piazza of Bruno
sun going down, lights coming on
many regulars out for the season
even beggars have rotated
near over the line, yet still in order
with just above freezing
no tickets or towing
cars, motorinos and bicycles
visible police and undercover
overflowing action no on can follow
too cold for mime or musicians
in season’s chill December
four days before Christmas
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