To Two Nonnas @2007 Linda Barrett We can't afford to go to Italy So you both bring it to us We hear in the music of your names, each syllable coming from your mouths, vocal chords and tongues that dance fast Italian tarantellas from your shared cubicle You both should have been sisters Born on the same month And sailed into America on the same ship. You bring us Italy through your cooking: olive oil drenched cole slaw made zesty with ground pepper and salt, amaretto cookies placed on our desks deep fried calamari rings at the Willow Grove Bennigan's and Italian restaurants in a Maple Glen shopping center. You both embrace us with still strong Nonna arms and crochet bright pink baby clothes for expecting employees. On the weekends, you become bocce ball champs in Montgomery County where Italian is still spoken, To uphold up the old country's heritage This poem comes out from our love to you because just by being our friends we want to save all our pennies to see what Italy is really like.