Saturday, February 16, 2008
today - no problem
it should have been easy
but train was canceled
things happen
an hour later caught a train
that went part way
stopped, waited for the next train
found a little place to eat
lunch was good, music loud
six people in the place
music enough for forty-five
did they want us to eat or dance
enjoyed the food, ate well
prices reasonable
ears sill ringing
caught our train to the country
a fine day
came back without incident
on the bus
Meri told me the ugly old
man in the silk stockings
was a woman
almost missed our stop
just another day
no problem
Friday, February 15, 2008
most all asleep
creeping about in my pajamas
when standing by the window
i listen for it
only the clock moves
in absolute defiance
to the silence of the night
an appliance
and electrical wires
hum on for me
forever a subtext
a lone plane passes over
a car door closes
a voice down the street
fractions of the day
still awake
complete
even the cats are asleep
Thursday, February 14, 2008
clerks quirks
when the cashiers at our bread store never do?
also at the grocery store if the amount is three-ninety eight
they keep two cents and start counting back change at four
if my bill comes to nine fifty-six
the cashier will pause
look slowly into the cash drawer
wiggle around in there with her fingers five or ten minutes
talk to another employee for a while
then look up with eyes glazed and dead pan face
and ask if I have fifty-six cents
every time
i notice that if i don't move at the speed of lightening
like an old west gun slinger in the movies
she is already back in the drawer making change
the question to me was just something required by law
means nothing
if this were a movie, the director would yell cut
"ok, jack, step aside. we're bringing in a stunt man to go for the exact change. this guy is really fast, incredible."
by the time i have a few coins out to help
she is handing me change
not counting it out, just putting it on the
special plastic place that was built for change
along with my receipt
the bread store rounds off one or two cents
or loads me up with one and two cent pieces
that i carry home and put in a jar
until it's too heavy to lift
i’ve never seen an italian coin wrapper
i think they use buckets and scales
where are the oxen pulling wagons on the street
and big guys riding shot gun
ever since that guy invented the
drop ceilings that are sold all over the world
everyone is looking for another thing that can make a billion bucks and be used everywhere
that's what those change holders are at checkout counters
i expect to see those grocery clerks in their spare time
on the corner asking for change
just to keep in practice
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
via cappellari
our little apartment building dates from 1500
the arch was erected about 1300
my source is an architectural historian
from john cabot here in roma
on the wall under the arch
is a sign on the wall inscribed in Latin on a marble slab
dated 1733
it says not to discard refuse under the arch
offenders risk monetary fine
and corporeal punishment
the city of Roma now puts
our refuse cans under the arch
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
abramo & zakaria
he's served us several times
back by the wood oven is zakaria the older egyptian cook
i asked his name a year or two ago
complimenting him for the pizza he makes so well
both have biblical names
here in italy it used to be the law
you had to name your child after a saint
my god, now they are putting chips in people
roma is tough, they endure with patience
what desires have they for the twilight called tomorrow
we greet them, chat little, must not slow them down
they work long hours not getting wealthy
i respect these friendly fellows of another world
here colliding asteroids in city space, bump and go
we eat and go, countless tourists hardly see them
they are but a necessary convenience
zakaria said hi to me the other day at the hardware store
i didn't recognize him out place, without his cooking whites
his little hat. his pizzas are the best you know
why are egyptian cooks often the best for italian pizza
abramo is youthful, slight and quick
he will bend in the winds of time, see many changes
possessed with good spirit and force
god bless his energy
we don't look over, around or through these two
they, as we, are seeking acceptance
Monday, February 11, 2008
mickey rooney
we heard he was going to be at
the state theater in sandusky, ohio
big deal, who cares, he's old
then we read it was his birthday
and we started talking about it
the night of the performance
we were pumped
went there and bought
last-minute, top balcony back, the last seats
and we knew it would happen
just as we said, the last thing in the performance
they wheeled out cake and the music began
we stood, leaned back our head, smiled
and loudly joined with everyone in the theater
and it bounced off the ceiling
filled up each row and ran down the street
that's why we went, and what we got
how many times in your life do you
get to do that?
we always will remember the night
we sang happy birthday mickey rooney
Sunday, February 10, 2008
porta blu
He’s the core, The master who created the space
sets the rules and the pace at
his school for art
press the button, enter the place
all those seeking to climb to new lights in abstraction
gather amid music and fine company to treasure black chalk lines
or brush a bit of paint as they work
styled just right
under white light
below the streets of roma
an artist’s life is lived in experiment, chance and betterment
it only appears as chaos
until one gets the hang of it
and learns to cope with what you’ve got
time-out comes with tea and cookies
a diversion for the learned still learning new ways
among contented faces
then back to work
forgetting time until it calls
to wrap the lion heart of the artist in silence deep
where it aches to get back out
the next time
here under the street
at Porta Blu
Saturday, February 09, 2008
coincidence saves time
he could have told me no
didn’t drive it very far
when i wrecked my brother’s car
i need someone to blame
the car will never be the same
it was easy what I did
i braked on ice and slid
it could have been a garbage can
but no, I slid into his insurance man
not just the man, he was in his car
you know how coincidences are
Friday, February 08, 2008
meri's idea
“The world needs more”
line ‘em up and fill it to overflow
look below and get the rest of it
no need counting anything
just take it all, keep loading
when you’re pumping gas – don’t stop
don’t save anything, use it all
why do you think there are super-stores?
fill me, thrill me, bill me later
high speed loop de loop
counterfeit the brand names
withdraw it all
several credit cards will help
jam it, damn it
limits are made to be broken
what are records for?
Thursday, February 07, 2008
market analysis
and won’t come up for air
all your trouble is like a bubble
when it pops sit back and stare
no need to hurry if you want to worry
you’ve got the time to spare
but hold that frown, cause it’s going down
every stinking where
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
some history
then envelopes with glue came about after they found
a dead horse stuck to the sidewalk
then the post office made stamps
more horses turned up missing
when mail started getting lost
they blamed it on the pony express
and raised the price of stamps
they tried morse code, radio, town criers, tv and computers
not in that order
but letters and envelopes wouldn’t go away
hallmark was happy
and the price of stamps went up
bulk rates for advertisers were invented
and immediately the rates went down
dit-dit-dit,dah-dah-dah.dit-dit-dit
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
when you wash socks
be sure to count them
pair them up
do not count them in the dirty laundry
it is not advised
but you damn well better line up your ducks
excuse me, socks, when you take them out of the dryer
and try not to stare at the dryer spinning
you heard about crazy kids climbing into dryers
and getting spun nuts – well I want to warn you
the same thing is true
about staring at spinning dryers
it can spin you nuts, bro!
so the moral of this is to pair up your socks
immediately after taking them out of the dryer.
Or else
Monday, February 04, 2008
meri drove
Fine. We showed up at the Termini and they had no knowledge of our reservation. No trace, no how, no car, no way, no shit!
At the next counter, three inches away a polite girl for another company had a car and a good price. We were on our way. Meri drove us around Sabina.
More about Sabina at another time.
When we got the car back, we went down to the office, Meri used the bathroom while I had to go back up to the fourth floor of the parking lot and drop off the car keys, put them in a slot in a box. I thought it was a good trick just finding the box and figuring out that was where the keys are dropped.
When I came back down, I nodded toward the bathroom and the guy behind the glass slipped me a metal door handle with a square block on it that fit where the door handle goes. I have taken a few door handles apart so I knew what the thing he gave me was for. How do others do it?
Later, on the way out, I asked the guy behind the glass if tourists had difficulties. Yes, with the door handle, but finding a gas station and getting the car back to the rental place also. He said the Italians have trouble. Even the people that work there have trouble getting to work. Nothing is easy for anybody, ever.
“Yeah, but Roma is bella,” I told him. We laughed.
Sunday, February 03, 2008
writing
like digging a pit
you have to know
how deep to go
and what do you do
when that work is through?
You cover that lover
and start on another
Saturday, February 02, 2008
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
balls
The balls get weathered, so they just give them away.
Easter must be early because they usually don’t take down the tree until after valentines day.
The first time we got a ball, in 2000, we were going to the post office at the Vatican. It was February and they were taking down the tree that day.
Meri said, “why don’t you go get one of the balls, they’re giving them away.”
"You want a gold one or a silver?" I asked.
"Gold," she said.
"We're a little late, you know."
"Just get one. I'm going in the post office."
I looked at the crowd and thought it was impossible, but started walking over to the tree in the center of the Vatican piazza. Hundreds of people surrounded the tree. Surely we were too late. About half way across the piazza from out of the mass of people an older couple walked toward me. The woman was happily holding a large gleaming sphere in each hand.
They stopped directly in from of me and the lady said, “We got two balls, but can’t pack them both. Which one do you want?” She held out a large gold and a large silver. Surprised and pleased the quest was over as quickly as it had begun, I took the gold one, and she seemed pleased with my choice.
after getting the christmas ball today
we were beyond piazza cavour
sitting down on a bench and
our friend bruce who we haven't seen for a few years
walks up and finds us
it’s another one of those roma coincidences
were you see someone you don’t expect in
another part of the city
nico
Nico’s ninety-four, can hardly see me
waves his hands and says
i’m like a big shadow
he’s not very tall
used to be a dancer acrobat
traveled europe with his pretty partner
i’ve seen photos of him holding her
above his head with one hand
he lives alone in the small third floor apartment
where his grandmother lived in the 1860s
where his mother was born
and so was he
about once a month or so
he cooks another pot of vegetable soup
that’s all he eats, and some nuts
that’s all he desires
much younger than a man of his years
he keeps talking - hopping about
overflowing energy, enthusiasm, and joy
with good wishes to all he encounters
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
roma - italian senate archive/library
italy’s senate is on
corso del rinascimento,
meaning street of the renaissance
next door is the senate library – the state archive
with great double doors framed in grey heavy stone
and a pointy roof like a birdhouse
an entranceway eighteen feet tall
from the bus stop directly across the street
I could see a couple of tourists, dark silhouettes
just inside the open doors looking
beyond the sun-lit interior courtyard
over the pillars of the building on the back side
and then above to the decorative white, spired
belltower of the church behind the library
an acquaintance, roberto, had been
the senate librarian
for a lifetime
now retired, another takes his place
while the usefulness of this centuries old building
goes on
Monday, January 28, 2008
coincidences
that morning she saw him at roccos breakfast place
in another part of the city
many times I have seen familiar faces
on the other side of town
on the same day
a few days ago I had the idea to call ambra from the train
she already was at the next stop
waiting to board our train
she got on at the tiburtina stop
we had a nice talk for a half-hour or so
then she was on her way
there are two and a half million people here, but
I’ve noticed, and so have friends, that you see people
when you don't expect to.
roma is like that
Sunday, January 27, 2008
sunday in roma
We crossed in front where the well uniformed Carbinieri stand watch at the national monument, then walked around the side.
An art show of works by Paul Gauguin was underway at the Veneziana. There was quite a line.
On the side of the monument we started down the walk on the old crude pavement stones. Years ago we were there when tour group was coming up the hill and heard the guide call instructions to his group. Then a a few moments later a member of the group repeated the call to some stragglers “This is a part of the original Roman road, we have two minutes to get on the bus.”
Near the back side of the building we descended a staircase to the old jail where it is said that both Peter and Paul were prisoners and miraculously escaped. There are no signs to indicate this, and as with much of old Rome, you have to know what and where things are.
Then on the back side of the monument we stood over the old Roman Forum that stretches several hundred yards and two thousand years to the Arch of Constantine and the Colosseum. These Forum ruins are what is left of the Rome of the Ceasars. The worn buildings have been stripped and tumbled for centuries and recycled, in part to provide material to build the current old building of Rome.
Much of old Rome remains in the Forum, and today the tourists were about as plentiful as the residents and merchants on a market day of old. Oddly, the population of Rome is about the same as it was two thousand years ago, two and a half million.
Then we walked up and around to the Campidoglio, saw the statue of Marcus Aurelius on horseback and the square that Michelangelo designed to show it off. Today a wedding was taking place at the popular spot for civil weddings.
Then around and up again to a breathtaking terrace view over rome.
“Where’s the camera?” I asked reaching out for it.
”Didn’t you bring it? You were going to bring it.” She said.
“I thought you were bringing it,” I said.
“I charged the batteries, you were going to bring the camera. That’s the last thing you said,” she reminded.
“I asked if you were going to bring the camera.”
“And, you said you were going to bring it,” she said.
Then down, across the street and through the ghetto. A ceremony was going on as we passed. The president of the Hebrew community was speaking for the day of remembrance. The Nazis of World war II will not be forgotten.
We boarded the tram across the Tiber to Trastevere. We tried two different tables at a crowded Italian restaurant that was filled to overflowing with deaf people this day, so we opted to return another day, left and had Chinese food at our nearby regular Sunday restaurant.
Our friend maria met us, and said next week she’d take us to an old Roman eatery nearby.
We had coffee, talked and then returned home at dark. It was a fine day in Roma.
Saturday, January 26, 2008
the blog has
some is italy and some is me
i wake up swimming in it
sea to si'
which poetic voice to use
something old or something new
what do you want?
what to do?
a friend wants to know a good place to eat
and all of roma pops up in front of me
i’ll come up with an answer when I see him
but for now it’s business as usual
meri and i went to lunch at Pasquali’s
sat the common table for the locals,
the citizens of roma, the head count.
how good can lunch at a family hole in the wall be?
saturday and the cook knows us
red pasta and a half liter of red
as good as it gets
then an electric bus home
presto, that's italian
that sounds like it means
Thursday, January 24, 2008
i entered
then gave attention to a sun-fraction
that gleamed on my eye as i stood
stolen from a somewhere frozen january dream
falling attentive to the intense stream
that poured into this darkened space,
my mind made mention to air dust
rising liquid white-tinted in the beam
from an up-high hole in the wall
came the length of light shooting,
blowing across my winter illusion
smokey air that swirled like snows
i took a prism from lying around
to hold the glass in the white falling
this caught-broken beam, interrupter of dream,
sans sound, played a colorful serenade scene.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
since man's
a period quite concise
we’ve sought to find our collective worth
and never are precise
it seems that none who’ve suffered birth
have been able to entice
knowledge to enter at full girth
or, to take one’s own advice
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
cell phones
the italians took off with cell phones
use and abuse
they were hooked
everyone had one
and used them all the time
everywhere they’d go
in restaurants, stores, on the buses, in their cars
wandering in trances on foot up and down the street
crowding in groups of three or five or six
they’re all on the phone
or stopping one at a time on the sidewalk
waving hands and explaining something
it looked crazy, a mania
and for all the talking
all the talking
everyone talking
you’d think the world would change
and perhaps it has
italians have achieved the highest cell phone rates
in europe
realizing it
as suddenly as it began
they are now talking less
Monday, January 21, 2008
the buffalo
when secretaries call in sick
and postmen wear goulashes
go to the zoo and take in what’s left
splash along the water-covered concrete
past occasional trees bent, looking away
from the wind’s lick
see the muddy, mucky, peanut-shelled patch
where there stands the buffalo
knee-deep, with dirty, unkempt, matted hair
his eyelids closing out the drizzle
shoulders that held up america
clothed the indians in a montana mountain snow
fed starving wagoneers not quite to the promised land
mark of the plains
symbol of an era
it is fitting that he be visited
for his eyelids are closing now, america
Sunday, January 20, 2008
lost him in the sun
played and sang them
with incredible american spirit
I’m grateful for
brief contact and
hold longstanding admiration
for all this great artist of our time has given
thank you, john stewart
i had the good fortune to speak briefly with john in ’65
at the north hollywood’s palomino in ’77
and the in the early 90’s in mill valley
where i didn’t know, but she told me,
it was buffy’s mom I gave a ride home in my ‘52 chevy truck
john, it was influential to have heard
your songs calling out to me
the lonesome picker has died
long live his memory
where the chilly winds don't blow
for every daydream believer
Saturday, January 19, 2008
to home
with motorinos parked on both sides
and a lot of people, young and old, about on the narrow street
i began walking the few blocks home
i didn't hear the car come up behind me
or turn to look
as it sped past inches away
cabs, buses and four or five motorcyles
rocketed by as I crossed near the crosswalk
through the confusion
looking straight ahead
noise, movement
life in the city
everyone has their space
and uses every inch of itanother train
again to Orte, an hour north of roma
this time to look at a house the church is selling
two apartments, one each floor
and a basement, 500 meters squared
not your typical home
ancient, interesting, particular
the basement goes down three levels
with a dozen winding caves, wine press, a well and tunnels
all dug by hand into the rock
dating back 2600 years
by the etruscans