Saturday, March 01, 2008
autogrill
ahead is a covered bridge that spans the highway
with a parking area on the right and on the left
look! it's not a bridge
it's auto grill
everyone is saved
half way to anywhere in forty countries
you'll find the multinational food and retail conglomerate
at airports and on highways
serves food to drivers
has clean restrooms
and if you go when it is not meal time in italy
it will be nearly empty
at meal time it will be packed
you pull off and park
go up two floors by stairs or an elevator
and the restaurant and store part spans the highway
nice view
want a postcard, chocolate or a small sandwich, t-shirt and coffee
you've got it
(cd's and perfume also available)
Friday, February 29, 2008
fontana di trevi
down the street, just behind trevi fountain
pointing to the closed doors on the opposite side when i
asked a shop keeper why the engraving museum isn't open
he shrugged and said it's one block over
at the fountain i walked around the front
in 19 b.c. romans built the acqueduct
that brings water from the hills 8 miles out of roma
it actually travels 14 miles before it gets here
even water gets the run-around
in 1953 roman holiday with audrey hepburn and cary grant
brought the fountain to our attention
i had walked nearly all the way around before i looked at the fountain
after a hundred times in that square i didn't have to look right away
watching where i was going through the many tourists
kept me occupied
the middle point around i was at the church
the point of the three roads intersecting
tre vie, three roads, trevi
years ago i sat on those church steps opposite the fountain
drawing it for an hour or two
passing tour groups woke me to realize
more buses than i could recall
had entered the piazza one at a time
unloaded and reloaded and left
i looked toward the waters again
no wonder they all come
it's such a pretty fountain
Thursday, February 28, 2008
john and bill
to pay the fine we got yesterday
for not paying the exit toll at the autostrada,
because the machine was broken
the post office was like a fifteenth century
first class lounge with fifty service windows
we paid the one euro fine instead of
waiting for them to increase the fine
and repossess everything we own,
i don't know about jail time
then we walked next door
to the church san silvestro in capite
meri took a picture of the head of john the baptist
about five places around the world
claim to have his head,
the place i doubt is
disneyworld in orlando - come on!
then we walked around the corner
to the cafe greco at the foot of the spanish steps
and saw a photo of buffalo bill cody
taken when he was there in 1903
here it is one hundred five years later
not only is the bar still there
but the furniture is the same
point that out to your wife the next time
she wants to do some redecorating at home
just your average day in the dis-average roma
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
bus drivers in roma
did mommy or daddy chase them with a bus?
some of them can drive ok but don’t stop well
bad, let’s say the truth - they stop like hell
the passengers get jerked all around.
those standing spin like pole dancers
did they really pass a driving test?
who gave it to them, their girlfriend?
what's the bus man's rush all about anyway?
they have to work their shift, don't they?
if it was the number of circuits they had to make
they’d get someone to lie for them about how many
then they'd knock off early
which could be best for all
some drive well, this i must admit, and some
are kind and considerate to their passengers
there are exceptions to every rule
still others curse and drive and drool
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
obelisks
but until i walked in the shadow of one
and saw the intricate inscriptions that i cannot read
did i feel their strength and splender
there are 30 in the world, all from egypt
13 in roma, in egypt only seven, four standing
the ones in london and new york
used to be in roma
san giovanni's in roma
is the tallest in the world, 105 feet,
originally 140 feet
and the oldest - 15 century b.c.
a true obelisk is made from one piece of stone
so they say
washington monument is 555 feet tall
many pieces, but obelisk enough for me
in roma obelisks are impossible to avoid
easy to glance at from afar
worth seeking out
magnificent to examine
Monday, February 25, 2008
artists dinner
at marina's house in the country
eight robust artist types
drank wine and laughed
bread, fruit, cheese, and one oven cooked chicken
we ate and ate, enjoyed talking, and then ate more
then when we were finished
all completely well satisfied
we noticed there was chicken left over
no drugs, no miracle, how could it be?
Sunday, February 24, 2008
anzio
a thousand others had the same idea
had a fine seafood lunch at the lovely port
so did the thousand others
our seafood anti-pasta for two
came on fifteen different large plates
how can there still be fish in the sea?
we sure are eating a lot of it
note that everything at the anzio station is broken
and covered with more graffiti than we've seen anywhere else
the day was sunny and warm
and full of people
it's not yet spring, the tourists haven't even arrived
and they will
Saturday, February 23, 2008
just checking
and were ten feet from the entrance to the car rental place
on a busy street, turn signal on
twenty feet farther a group of police stood
one flagged us to pull ahead, i told meri to just turn
i waved no to the cop, we're turning in here, be sensible
"no , this is police work, drive forward and stop"
meri did what they said.
while the first cop was asking her for documents etc.
i got out of the car and asked another cop, "who's the boss?"
he was the boss
"why stop us, we were turning back there?"
"it's a car check"
"there are plenty of cars for you to check." i pointed
indeed, many others were speeding by
"where are you from?, he asked
not answering his question, i responded, "i'm a citizen of roma"
that stopped him. he didn't expect me to yell at him in italian.
and that citizen of roma stuff always works
"you know this is ridiculous," i said.
"well, this is how things are done in italy," he replied.
i said, "i know."
and that is the whole truth, your honor
Friday, February 22, 2008
the pantheon
destroyed by fire in 80 a.d., built again in 125 a.d.
the oldest standing domed structure in rome
perhaps the best preserved building of its age in the world
erected, destroyed, rebuilt again, it's original purpose unknown
a circular building, a temple dedicated to all the gods
and for the people, who have always come to this place
the interior a perfect circle, the diameter and height are 43 meters
inside, to the center, below the circular vaulted roof opening, called the great eye, the oculus, over 8 meters in diameter
we paused to enjoy and appreciate
meri, looking through that eye to the sky, saw a lone bird fly over
and asked how i was at reading auguri, omens, signs from the heavens
i held her and smiled
a step at a time, i have no insight into what may be
we do the best we can with what we have
slowly it keeps changing, we'll wait and see
outside to the base of a pillar on the sunny side
we sat to watch for a while
with no particular purpose in mind
two small local boys played as children have for ages
on their marble slab home turf of the pantheon
taking in the bright day
amid the quiet well-ordered mirth
still aware for whatever it's worth
that these precious moments are joys
for our brief time on earth
Thursday, February 21, 2008
weather roma
eighteen suns over lazio, the region of roma
oh, look at venezia, how many suns
count 'em up, there's almost twenty
i found a four percent chance of precipitation
on a clear day, repeated every hour
the amount of winds, negligible
but mentioned frequently
a chart of projections for the day
updated in two hour increments
complete - not completely
no mention of temperature
figlio di putanna, isn't the amount of clouds
and eighteen suns over roma enough for you?
unless we tell you otherwise
weather will continue as usual
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
iced over
and on the back
of my neck
a cold wind pushes me
to recollect a day walking, walking
in the snow with my hands in my pockets
with my head low and nose cold
walking in the wind, in the snow
long ago
to or from somewhere
saw some friends
going to the corner store
city-old maples
fat and icy
tap their limbs upon windows
no one can let them in
puddles on the curb
round the corner
on the curve
iced over
run down the street
feet and ice meet
slide on the sheet
iced over
in the wind, in the snow
long ago
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
house
would you move out please
we just bought it
we made an offer on a house
in the country, an hour out of roma
the house needs attention
it’s all there, but not how we’d do it
what do we want? something else.
how do we want it? easy.
will we know it when we see it?
maybe, but don't bet on it.
globalization will do away with choice
one burger, one car, one house
why should we complain?
it’s less expensive to make it all the same
and why should it stop? with stem cell technology
one dog: part cat, part fish, part chicken
when you’re done playing with it
you can eat it
Monday, February 18, 2008
quick say
from thirty feet away
i saw the waiter who has seen me several times
sitting, taking coffee with roberto at mid-day
our eyes met, he paused
recognition appeared
i raised my chin and squinted in question
he thought again and peered
he gave a quick shake no
we exchanged a few slight, rapid tilts of head and shoulders
and nods of confirmation
all was well in order
then both shrugged, turned, went about our way
this was a solid bit of communication
absolute and complete in eight seconds
here's what we had to say
i said, "hey, i know you ."
"i know you also," came his first.
"how are you doing, have you seen roberto?"
"i'm fine," he answered, "but, no, i haven't seen robert. he hasn't been around."
"okay," I said, "let him know i was looking for him if you see him."
"Will do," he answered.
"i'll be back, it was good to see you."
" yeah, you to."
"ciao."
"ciao."
Sunday, February 17, 2008
colossus
near the grande raccordo annulare, the great highway ring around roma
we relented and returned on the swift metro line b
under the pyramid,
under the old chariot race site circus maximus
below the old forum to our stop
we walked and escalatored up several flights
to encounter saturday night at fiori imperiale,
mussolini's contribution in the 1930s, a boulevard
that cuts through the forum to the center of roma
the ruins of nero's home, domus aurea on the rise behind us
before, the colosseum
behold - grandiose, invincible master of ages
modern marker of the bygone empire
tall and black against the chill of february sky
that has withstood two millenia
of wind, rain, scorching heat and cold
paraded in and shouted over
blood and prayers, beasts and gladiator
lie dormant in the sands beneath
now buses pass closely by
i saw a jet liner flying toward fiumicino airport
photos are snapped and promises have been made
under the shadow of the giant
and in the twentieth century they dug
a metro line tunnel under everything
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 etruscansThursday, January 17, 2008
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
are you now, or have you ever
one of the great things about night
is that it gets dark
think about it.
it even cools down at night
it’s like a time out
let’s keep it that way
back in ’02 vienna, austria was the first place in the world
to pass a law about light pollution.
the people who passed the law must have bitched as much as i do.
have you seen a photo of earth from space?
it’s lit up like a christmas tree
don’t get me wrong, I like free light. It’s great to have your house lit up and not have to pay for it.
but not with a street light shining in at all hours
who wants to be able to read the small print in the phone book in bed with the lights off?
so I wake up early - four or so
bad guys should do that
then sit quietly alone
they’d cause less trouble
and quit going to meetings where there are flags, banners or emblems
and don’t take any oaths
i like to sit in the dark.
when a light is on do the cops drive by
and wonder what’s going on in there?
“jack, there’s six guys in military fatigues and flack jackets in your laboratory taking all the lids off your paint cans.”
i heard that old people got up at night
but I’ve always done it
trouble sleeping?
no trouble at all
i like getting up when it’s quiet
even the dogs are asleep
the good thing about kitties is that they don’t bark
ever
and you don’t have to follow them around
with a plastic bag
we have a neighbor dog that gets up to pee
at two in the morning and then barks once to be let in
that’s cute
unless I’m sleeping with the window open
one bark and I’m up
light pollution and dog pollution
I like animals that are vegetarians
And totally biodegradable
headache, neuritus, neuralgia?
Where have all the flowers gone?
Sunday, January 13, 2008
sunday in trastevere
he lives just up the street on san francisco ripa but
it started raining and he can't carry an umbrella
on crutches
someone opened a car door in front of his
motorcycle a month ago
he broke a leg
to get out of the rain
instead of going into the restaurant
we waited inside santa maria in trestevere
for our friend maria
then had chinese food
when she arrived
and passed a good time
http://www.sacred-destinations.com/italy/rome-santa-maria-in-trastevere.htm
Saturday, January 12, 2008
orte
we rode an hour north by train to grey, stone Orte
built high atop a hill in 1300 and still intact
on quiet turning, odd angled streets the gentle bus man
told us of a restaurant just off the main piazza
each step revealed a scene to paint or photograph
the eating spot was quiet, provincial and well appointed
in a tired, sophisticated country way
we each had different tasty local pastas with red wine
after, coffee at a traditional bar, filled with locals
then took refuge in a somber old shelter built in a wall
and awaited ten minutes for the local bus
then caught a train in the rain back to roma
Thursday, January 10, 2008
aquaforte engraving
this is my sixth year of doing them
this one, called "the builders",
was done on a zinc plate about five by seven inches
if you make an error it shows
you can't erase
a wax coating is applied, then scratched off the plate
then dipped in a 75% solution of nitric acid, cleaned,
inked and printed on paper that has been soaked
in water
it is a slow process of planning, preparation and execution
one at a time is printed
click on the photo to enlarge
a snowy day
Wednesday, January 09, 2008
tram ride
Four young italians on tram 8
were laughing and taking photos
of the back of a mans head
riding on the tram.
(not just the head –
the whole man was riding on the tram)
The elderly balding man
had a five cent piece
stuck on the back of his head.toward home
turning toward home
i walk collar up, huddled in random, quiet thought
amid the turmoil of cobblestoned old roma
tempered by the ages
of michelangelo, bernini,
shelly, keats,
and fellini
“oh, marcello” laments sophia
these weary streets are covered by now silent footsteps
put down through the ages
between some dusted grey buildings
nearly black, unattended
or vulgared in dashes by modern signage
how swiftly leaps time
day and night swing over
venders, thieves, beggars
in alleys
swarmed with map-clad tourists
while around thunder large buses and sirens
and all passersby suck exhaust
above are broken shutters, some missing
weather worn graffiti scratched in stone
potted plants on high-railed private terraces face the sky so as to look away from it all
core of me
the dentist says my tooth has a crack in
So its going to happen
extraction
another tooth is goin’ away
i’ve lost a few already
like someone who loses a limb and still has feelings in it
could this tooth be the core of me
maybe they’re all wrong and my brains are in it
the very core of me
yank it and I’ll be gone
wait and see
Sunday, January 06, 2008
the last to know
so i have a bit of disability
but i thought it impaired only my disposition
(i never read the instructions)
with confidence, courage and meri
we went to a week long ski place in the alps of bessans, france
it was more like Curly, Larry and Meri
(i was Curly)
and it was not actually a "week long" ski place
because it was still there when we left
should i start over?
okay
so we went to this place where
i dug, ground and pushed my face into the snow and ice
more than necessary
but it was fun, of a sort
my friend Max, one of the ski instructors
took me out of the beginners class in the first minute
and put me into the "absolute beginners" class
so i'll tell you -
those frenchies ski a lot.
we saw this kid about five doing a down hill
then fall flat backwards
AND THEN HE BENT UPWARD AND KEPT GOING!
he was down about one second
i saw a friend fall and got up in about three seconds
when i fell
i laid there a while and thought about things
like - what time is lunch?
where was i? the place looked familiar
in a white and snowy sort of way
i had long wooden stick-things tied onto my feet
how could i position them to stand up?
it took about five minutes to get up, everytime
sometimes i had help
sometimes i took the help down with me
wanna help?
i don't know if they will let me come back
i think i am on a list somewhere
Sunday, December 23, 2007
Friday, December 14, 2007
the true cross
constantio teotedesco of romania/transylvania
was applying guma laca to an old piece of furniture
and making it shine like a collector’s garage-kept ’57 buick
this other guy was making in-laid wooden clothes hangers
and i asked why
he said he was doing it for the fun of it
cause no one buys them
i asked his name
and he said Cruccia
the italian word for clothes hanger
i asked if he was joking
he thought i wanted the name of the thing he was making
and i finally got his real name, eugenio
i wasn’t sure if he was kidding
because it sounds like the italian word for genius
but is eugene
it’s tough being a foreigner
passing through, among friends
in a little workshop in roma
secret love
i love clocks
they keep on ticking
and isn’t it amazing
time doesn’t exist
oh, time is here, we made it so
and you’d better not be late
cause that’s bad,
I know, I know
despite universal laws and regulations
I like clocks anyway
every time, anytime
cause they keep ticking and ticking
wealth revealed
Thursday, December 06, 2007
laboratorio
from my lab, looking out.
that's our 12 year old geo in the reflection
50 miles to the gallon
good ole geoie
below your will find the objects from the bessans photo blown up. if i could run picassa any better they'd be big as a house, but i couldn't transfer them larger. take it from me, they don't look like smudges on the camera lens. they are three cornered things put together to form different shapes.
smudge my butt, that's what i meant to say to my contact with expert credentials.
back to the painting. it's acrylic on canvas.
i'm putting together a web site. let's say several of us are.
not to sell art or poetry, but to put it out there, cause i think it is time for the world to enjoy things, to appreciate the beauty in the world.
i live in rome most of the year
even here the new age has overrun the beauty of the ages
i have hope the wheel keeps turning
and like a wave there are highs and lows
give all to love
patiently trod
smile when you can
do the best you can
sun goes up
sun goes down
the good times
will come around
so now a guy calls - just now
he found my name in the rome phone book
because he found a telecomando, or a device to open a gate
it had my last name and the first three numbers of my voip phone on it
but it is a device to open a gate and i don't have a gate
and my last name is the only one like it, of the six million names in roma
he found me, but it wasn't my thing he found
my last name is Sender and it could mean the device was a sender
the numbers?
incomplete, but they almost meant something to me
like the story of roma
incomplete
and i'm not sure what it means to me
maybe that's why i'm still here
Tuesday, December 04, 2007
Monday, November 26, 2007
Bessans, France
friend. "This is good, Walter. Most interesting. Enlarge the photo and look carefully. Do tell me,
you were there, what are those two things in the sky?" I wrote.
He replied, "Birds."
Then I saw a third thing in the sky and a possible fourth, above and to the right of the one on
the left. The entire file contained about a hundred photos, both indoors and out. I checked
them all again. This was the only one with smudges that caught my attention.
After a short while my friend wrote again, "Winter. Where do these pictures come from?"
I wrote back, "I think you took it. It was on a cd you sent me from your trip to Bessans,"
Then I knew he had accidentally photographed swamp gas.
Friday, November 09, 2007
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Monday, October 29, 2007
the return of blackie
Beginning in the spring we have a lot of birds in our yard. My wife likes to keep the bird bath clean for them. The cardinals have their own bath they prefer to use, while the other birds use the community bath. There are robins, sparrows, doves, starlings, cardinals and blackbirds. We bought peanuts for ourselves and threw a few to the birds because it seemed the friendly thing to do.
While other birds didn’t pay much attention, one black bird in particular loved the peanuts. After just a few days it was apparent that the free peanuts got to be a habit for this black bird. He’d come around everyday at the same place for a tasty peanut. Only a short while later we had named him Blackie, our favorite bird.
It would have been nice to have a colorful cardinal, or even a blue jay as a favorite, but the other birds remained aloof. The best we could attract was our new feathered pal, the solo blackbird
That summer a lot of birds came and went through our yard, but only Blackie was a regular that we could identify. The robins had children and hung around teaching them to dig for worms, and the doves walked around in pairs. But, Blackie made a noise to attract our attention. We talked to him and he would fly in for his peanut.
In the fall, most birds migrate south for the winter. Only the illusive cardinals stay year round.
One day The following summer, when my wife was working on the side of the house she heard a black bird squawk. She looked up and said, “Blackie, is that you?” It was. She went around to the other side of the house where we used to feed him and he followed, and took up his usual position at a particular spot on our fence and waited for his peanut.
My wife and I were happy to see the old wanderer and enjoyed the surprise visit for a second year. Through out the summer Blackie was a regular, and became friendlier and calmer with our presence.
The third summer he returned again. Now he would fly to our back porch and I’d sit in a chair and put a peanut on the small table and he’d hop onto it and take his peanut. Now we had a pet.
By the end of that summer he was taking peanuts from my hand, still a wild bird, but happy to play the routine of entertaining us for his peanut.
Most every morning Blackie would be there. We’d look out and see him on the fence, and as soon as we came out with the peanuts he’d fly over and take one.
Many blackbirds were living in a wild an area a mile south of our home. Each morning they’d fly over and head to the farmers corn field where they’d feast for the day, then return in the evening.
The following year the farmers had complained and the city burned the wild area where the birds rousted. No longer did we have flocks of black birds passing over head. Blackie had moved on with his friends.
May rushed by with no sign of him, we wondered if he died, relocated with the others, or went off to make a family. Then in June he returned, and this time he brought a younger bird with him. We called it Blackie Junior. This was the fourth year in a row for Blackie on our fence. The same spot, the same routine of squawking and waiting for his peanut. Unbelievable, four years in a row we had Blackie as a guest. We only saw him a few days that year. His son never a taste for a peanut.
The fifth year there were even fewer birds around. May and June passed without a sign of him. Then at the end of July, when we had all but given up hope, he returned.
It was a quick stop. He must have been living farther away, but he made his appearance, did the squawks and the peanut grabbing routine, then flew back to the fence. I swear he looked back at us before he flew off, and that was it for Blackie’s visits.
We still look for him, or son of Blackie, but now he is only a pleasant memory, yet we still keep our peanuts ready just in case.