Joe Bottone

Swallows

                                                                                                

     I ride the train to Florence from Lucca

         and think of the pueblo in New Mexico

     where Corn Dance Clowns shake the earth as the train clickity

             clacks over the rails incantation.

             Visit Dante's home on Dante Alighieri street

    climb the stairs

 with the few curious tourist from China  

             I gaze at his dagger,

 his masterpiece open, lovingly placed under glass

             with blue illumination.

       Dante, your streets

the old winding roads of your Comedia still weep

           in anguish

  and the swallows, as always

       leave drops of blood in the sky

to fall on us like so much else.

          After all these years

do you still miss the sweet charms of her soft earth?

In the morning pale sky

               the church bells

         awaken the dead .

Shepherd flocks graze the green hillsides

         - oh,where is my name among the poets?

                      in these enchanted woodlands

          you might think mischievous

gods still rule the world.

Joseph Bottone

Years ago (1968) when Joe was living in Placitas, we had a lot of fun putting together the rather wild Oriental Blue Streak, a mimeo pub from duende . . . 

Here's Joe Bottone on the right. The late Bill Pearlman sitting in foreground.

Do see Joe's website: http://www.josephbottone.com/