Serene

 

    by signs

     of ancient pools

         of stop signs

                  south of Napoli

    the cheap suit!

        the cardboard

                               against my stomach

        the Romany (Gypsy)

     children

        all sizes

                     grasping my arms

outside the train station

         in Rome

        The black ambassador

        saying

        "Don't take candy from strangers!"

      and actually meaning it

               after us (Jessie and I) seeing 

   a box of mewling 

kittens by the side

   of a busy

highway