ITALIANS IN SPACE
They stroll
along the surface of the moon
like your great-nonni
after a family pranzo
on the steep side of a rocky hill
beneath the duomo.
Space is
to Italians the somewhere
they’re forced to go
instead of home to gather
on public balconies
for bel canto.
Home is
everywhere, including the streets,
the morning cafes
and afternoon bars
open for bad news taken
in centuries of stride.
Space is
the expanse of their prayers
in quarantine
and hospital wards
whispered in nurses’ ears
as if to say
today
is no price for the beauty
of heartfelt goodbyes
and the constant embrace
we offer the universe
come what may.
Bio:
George Guida‘s two latest collections of poems—Zen of Pop (Long Sky Media) and the revised edition of New York and Other Lovers (Encircle Publications)—were published in 2020. His earlier books include three other collections of poems, a collection of stories, and two volumes of scholarly essays. He is Past President of the Italian American Studies Association and Professor in English at New York City College of Technology.
OVUNQUE SIAMO 