She made me my first reticule when I was ten years of age
cutting an empty javex container she basketed the base  
then used her crochet to knit the yellow phentex into a purse,  
including a string to gather and hug the curve of my hand;  
In that moment , she taught me how to treasure things
and put them inside soft places  
where they could be hidden, from the rest of the world;
My mother, my confident, my first best friend,  
stitched to my heart the memory of her actions
as I the soakant in souled her like a kiss  
Inside the satchel I kept an Avon sachet, "basket of scented violets"
and the memory of those blessed hands.
If I close my eyes I can still recall the statue that sat in our living room
Our Lady Of Fatima
Three elective children, The Leonardi Clan" praying the rosary on plastic covered couches;  
Mom was our compass of faith, as we prayed,
I thought of my little pouch, and all the treasures I stored inside.

October 18, 2020

SPIDER SILLY CRAWLINGS UP AND DOWN WEBBED WALLS
THERE ARE GOBBLINS AND MONSTERS, MEOWLINGS TOO
JUMPING JACKS THAT POP AND LITTLE SLY FOXES THAT RUN
FOR GOODNESS SAKE BE SAFE SAYS THE EVE OF GOOD WILL

SCARY DOLLIES WITH EYEBALLS THAT JIGGLE AND WIGGLE
A PORCUPINE CHILD WITH A PRICKLY DEMEANOR, OH MY !
HAUNTINGS & MUDDLINGS, SCATTERINGS & SCARINGS
THE KIDS IN THEIR GARMENTS ARE WILDER THEN RODENTS  

HERE COMES THE STICKLIEST WITCH OF THE YEAR  
FLYING ON A  BROOMSTICK BEWARE, SHE DRAWS NEAR  
SHE HACKLES AND CACKLES WITH DROOPY NOSE QUACKLES  
MY KIDDIES BE CAREFUL, DON'T EAT FROM HER CASTLE    

SHE'S GOT MONGRELS AND HYBRIDS AND ALL KINDS OF BREEDS
AND EVEN THE GOBBLINS ARE AFRAID OF HER GREED
SHE'LL TRICK YOU SHE'LL TREAT YOU, BUT DON'T YOU BELIEVE HER
HER CAULDRON IS READY AND SOON SHE'LL BE FETCHIN'

SPIDERS AND GOBBLINS , LITTLE ONES TOO,  EYEBALLS AND TOES,
AND MAYBE ,  .... EVEN YOU !

This years Halloween its a tedious task  
because of the virus, we all need a mask      
be safe not sorry  
says the man, John Tory  
keep your distance, don't drink from a flask

the children are longing to participate this I know
cover mouth and nose, and join the evening tow
demonstrate
be a template
wear a mask while shelling out get into the flow

Halloween has been a fav since I was a little waif
kids will be kids, its up to us to keep them safe
keep an eye
if asked why ?  
tell them its essential, just for a period of grace.

A good little habit for all that they treasure
and its up to them if they want the pleasure
be cautious
not raucous
my children, have fun but remain in your measure.

October 15, 2020

Love, epitomic incarnation of life
a holding of the heart with warm intent
a gust of wind between husband and wife
love, the only thing with rights to amend  
Communion with it and you will always
drink from the reservoir of its success
A look, a kiss, a touch, an honest gaze
and suddenly your sheltered in  its bless
Love, the interlocking mesh of two  souls
a generosity that keeps our hearts alive
a gathering of the heart that has one goal
if partnered in two, it will always thrive
Love, its the only thing without a doubt,  
that can claim you, then turn you inside out.

"Professor Scarpnell  you are wanted on the phone" says an automated voice coming out of the message system. He slips the disk into the back of his neck and listens carefully to the instructions he is about to input  
Twenty four hours later all over the world  there are  people diving into water  searching for something that will change the world for good.
In a circular library sits an old librarian who has never left the City since the day she was born. "Off to pack my little bag" she says as she re-aligns a bobby pin gone askew.  At home she eats her modest egg then goes to the bedroom to search for her overnight bag.  
In another corner of the world Jim a retired fireman is peeled to the television watching the news. It appears that the virus has mutated and spread across the land faster than  the speed  of light. For the umpteenth time he wishes the department hadn't served him his papers and retired him like an old dog. At the age of fifty he is still fit as a fiddle. The phone rings at cutting edge and a green horizontal line appears.  Jack hears 'four' imprinted words....
                                     " IT'S IN THE WATER " .
He packs his shrapnel bullets in the lined compartment of his bunker gear then offers up a diluted prayer to the Gods of Technology for their systematic and safe state of weaponry.
Its a cool evening in Venice and the October wind has twined itself around the gondolas like an old friend.  Autumn  is a time for customary dishes and as the staff works diligently  in the kitchen, Chef Marco Battalione  catches up on paper work.  He opens an email from an unknown source asking for a reservation for seven on October 18,  7pm . Included is an e-transfer of $5,000 euros.
"I will need a private room where we can talk in absolute privacy  without the threat of being overheard.  The menu I leave entirely to your discretion.  I will arrive shortly after diner to introduce myself to the guests at hand.   Please do not try to contact me at this email address.  It is now obsolete for  reasons of confidentiality and for the  safety of all persons involved. "
Marco is stumped by the audacity of this person. When he realizes that  because of the restrictions on restaurants caused by COVID, he has
lost most of his income. He knows that he can ill afford to refuse such a generous offer. Setting aside a stack  of  bills, he begins to plan a menu fit for a King and Queen. With a red felt pen he  circles the date on the calendar, then pours himself a drink.  He raises a glass to the neon lights echoing over labyrinth streets and canals, and says "Salute"  

to be continued...

Wrapping him in  a blue blanket he hands him over to me
outside the snow is falling, as I gaze at him my hearts about to burst
all the pushing is over, now its time to receive his glee
bluest eyes I'd ever seen suckling at my breast with a quenching thirst  

Yesterday was Debussy and Bach
lullabies of sweet by a morning dawn
Today  a baby cradle and a gentle rock    
"Oh my God, did you see that Ron !"

We named him Joseph, after his grandfather who was a great artist
homilies of love spoken truthfully,  I cannot contain the joy
just given birth to a special boy and it feels like I've been kissed  
my love leans in and whispers " we'll give him every toy!"

With a sacral dimple you can't miss  
he looks like an Angel  
so I draw him close and feather him a kiss    
he gurgles as if to say, "I'm your Angel"    

October 8, 2020