(Chiara continued,)

''It was based on the friendship between me and the mother.
I had done some business to multiply the wealth I had.
I had an illegitimate little son and rather
Than letting him be poor, I would make money, good or bad.''



(Francesca was surprised to find this terrible secret and questioned Chiara,)



'' Did my father know about this child? '' '' Of course he knew about him.''
''What's his name? '' '' His name is Gregorio.'' ''Where is his father? ''
'' I fell in love with a nobleman as a maid, '' her eyes grew dim,
''In his parents' house, I'd gotten pregnant; then, he asked his brother



(Chiara continued,)



To talk with their parents about our marriage, but they
Immediately arranged his marriage with a noble girl,
And I was fired; they hoped that my sighs would pass away
While giving me some land and money; my mind was in a whirl.



(Chiara continued,)



A wealthy farmer wanted to marry me, but I took
The money, and I ran to the town, '' ''What have you done there? ''
''I've worked as a laundrywoman. One day, in a wayside nook,
I've met a band of actors; I was hired to play and, my dear,



(Chiara continued,)



On another day, another nobleman asked me to be
His wife; I've married him, but I've lost him shortly after
The marriage; then, one thing remained above my fame and me.
''The money! '' ''The suffering! '' Then, she said, ''Oh, my dear daughter! ''



(Chiara embraced Francesca because Francesca started to cry.)

(Francesca said,)



''You were unlucky! You were more unfortunate than me.
''Why? '' '' For thou hast known some happiness and thou lost it.''
''I've tried to convince your father not to play; he didn't see
Love; that you were his whole family, he should admit.''



(Francesca replied,)



''He was aware of the relationships in the society,
But he was hardly able to understand the women.''
''He understood them, but he didn't believe them, in reality.''
'' Lucca had a positive influence on him; then,


(Francesca continued,)



Lucca tried to help him change his life while being so busy.''
''He was shocked when he was threatened by the pirates; '' ''He was
Very resigned; '' ''While lacking his pipe that made me dizzy.''
'' He was powerful, and he joked when he was nervous because



(Francesca continued,)



He wanted to be untouchable; he loved the things
Of value, which were rare and authentic; while appreciating
The arts he didn't want to be sensitized; '' ''when the heart sings,
Love sensitizes it; eccentric while depreciating



(Chiara continued,)




The limitations, he wanted to be your partner in life.''
''He had known that this trip carried a high risk, but he needed
This danger to control me; '' '' he protected you as a wife.
He was willing to pay for his life while being mistreated



(Chiara continued,)



And while thinking that the pirates wanted wealth; did you see
How did Quintus disappear? '' '' No! I appreciate that Lucca
Has not betrayed the state secrets; in death, he started to be
A hero needing the strength to block the sun as Garuda.''



(Chiara said,)



‘’My first husband had been Italian, but your father
Has been Spanish and I was proud when he asked me to be
His wife; '' Francesca hugged her, '' I consider you a mother.
Rosa said that you're a witch, but you're like an angel to me.''



(Chiara said,)



''Rosa was able to play to the extreme for her happiness
While putting her victims in the other extreme; '' ''I think
You have a wrong impression about her; '' '' her rose of success
Withered quickly; her death was creepy upon her existence's brink.



(Francesca began to cry. Chiara said.)



''Rosa didn't help me when Bella fell into the water.
I didn't know that Bella could not swim. When that jellyfish
Attacked her, she clenched her hand so hard that I couldn't help her
Any longer'' '' Rosa helped me; if I could have one great wish



(Francesca continued,)


I would love to be instead of Bella; when Fargo and
Geraldine boarded the boat, you unbalanced and pushed me.
If Rosa hadn't kept me tight, I would have been in
Bella's place; '' Chiara exclaimed, '' So lucky how could you be?



(Chiara continued,)




How did you feel it? '' ''What do you mean? '' ''When you've painted that
Jellyfish; '' '' Yeah, it was like a premonition; maybe
We had to listen to Fargo; it wasn't good, '' ''What? ''
''To be exposed ashore; the pirates could see us; '' '' you know me! ''



(Chiara said that she hadn't known about the pirates' existence.)

(…to be continued…)


Poem by Marieta Maglas

President Joko Widodo.

Indonesian symbol Garuda
  is a mythical type phoenix
  akin to Icarus both extinct.

  Joko Widodo also known
   as the bird-man of Bali
   told Abbot go fly a kite.

A laugh, giggles, small talk.. I could hear it all as i watched the wooden logs slowly burn . he himself from between the logs interrupted them with a loud explosion. Isn't  being dead enough, he may have thought. I shook my head, "apparently not".

Once a tree, once a man, all turned grey when the red flower faded. I sat beside a tree to remember and remember i did.  That if not for a gasp, i would have forgot i breathe. If not for her grab, never would i see whats beneath. yet i sit, aloof and flat, like its all so long ago.  But is not so far to go.

I wondered how agony came to be apathy. I wondered how hows came to be whys. Thoughts, i got to know, is mightier than the garrote. I wondered if what i did was all i could do.

Never acquainted but yet so familiar, he smiled as he patted on my shoulder. "Let me tell you a story" he said. A story! I was amazed by his grit and wide eyed i looked at him, the well known stranger.

"Once yama the god of death went to meet lord vishnu, out there at the gate way was a bird who sang in a melodious voice. Yama gazed at the bird puzzled only to be noticed by the mighty garuda. The bird should be rescued no matter what and so he did as yama walked in through the gateway"

"he flew, garuda, with the little bird, past seven seas and seven lands to the mighty mountain no one has ever climbed. There on top of the mountain he placed the little bird " no one not even the god of death will find you here" he solaced and returned to the gateway he guarded.

"Yama looked at where the bird sat as he came out of the gateway only to find garuda with a triumphant smile. "No yama i wont let you take that innocent young bird with a beautiful voice, so i took her past seven seas and seven lands to the mighty mountain where even you can never reach"

The god of death smiled and said " i was puzzled to see the little bird here for he was to die tonight in the deadly fire on top of the mighty mountain. I was wondering how would the little bird fly past seven seas and seven lands to reach the mighty mountain by nightfall"

Bedazzled i was, with the greybeards story.
Looked up to see a sparrow on the tree. Satiated i felt, as all the hows and whys leaked through. "thank you" i said only to find a vacant chair. My eyes wandered in search of that strange stranger but That's how he is the well known stranger.

I kissed the moon
In purple glow

Her fingers, white beams
Licked my face

Not even Garuda
Could shroud Twi in

I was a tide
She pulled to her chest

We encompass
Then we wane

As the church bells
Ring out

She sings her songs
To slip herself down below the horizon

Behind the Gothics and willows
That point to her window

Where I find her
Tomorrow

Autumn scattered allover  sorrow and leafs,
But sun will  shine not knowing  the griefs.
Amun -Ra in other world is happy at last:
Elvish prophet predicted the forecast.

Legends and myths give us hope everyday,
Make think how actually close is Milk Way
And Peter Apostle sometimes with Athena
Waltzing in sands of Coliseum arena .

You know, I  do believe in Jesus the Christ
Prophets of Muhammad are highly priced
I share wisdom of Gautama  the Buddha
In my dreams Vishnu appeared on Garuda.

See nymphs enjoying dew drop in a dawn
Letter on ground made by steps of a faun.
As fables flocking like river through wood,
I shall always believe in love and in Good.