fortuna Obligato
the isle of capri
is lovely this time of year
standing on a hill top
with the ocean breeze
no sign of Tiberius or
Tyco Brahe
only a lone hunter with a shot gun
chasing a floundering pheasant
born and raised in a cage the bird(we are later told by the man at the church) was shipped from the mainland (Naples?)
to be released and hunted.
Now the bird is laying in the grass
and the hunter is gesturing with his
rifle.
He wants me to act as his bird dog
and roust the bird into flight so he can shoot it.
I jump around swinging my arms and yelling but the bird just lays there quivering
in fear wondering what this crazy American is doing. I indicate to the Italian that the bird ain't goin' nowhere.
He runs up, jumps on the bird tucks it under his arm and silently
departs through the grass and down the hill.
We decide to go to the same restaurant as the previous night.
The linguine with clams was so good I have to have it again.