An Italian-American Writer & Poet with a Yankee Outsider Perspective
No matter how depressed I get, summer season only, there’s an instant remedy–lifting one of our two (out of three) cats who’ll tolerate a sit on the back deck, and carrying her (they’re all hers) out with me. The deck … Continued
Her tongue is warm and rhythmic. We’re sitting flank-to-flank on the back- deck bench, my hand on her back to keep her from sprinting off, though she shows no sign of wanting to because, instead, she’s laving my arm with … Continued
This line from the French poet Baudelaire (1857) is one of my favorite resorts to describe wafting on warmth and joy. All is ease–luxe, calme. All is indulgence–volupte. It’s rare to feel such untroubled ease in the midst of a … Continued
I’m more aware of them now with the windows and doors closed – the swishy tails, the meows, and pawing at sleeve or pants leg. I’m more in the house where they live all the time. In summer feeling guilty about cooping … Continued
We Americans like to think of ourselves as individuals to the max, making our own way for better or worse in the world. Yet, as I think about the tragedy of 4-year-old’s Eric Dean’s death, reported Sept 2, 2014 in … Continued
There are three of them. Three tails and twelve paws to our none and four. When I’m rushing to respond to other humans by phone, written comment, physical interaction, the three of them are a blur and minor rumble–tails around my … Continued
Our three don’t go out so we don’t worry about frostbitten paws or frozen fur. It’s been snowing so much lately, they would be wet if they braved the elements–little Julia the black and white, with a cute moustache and … Continued
Three thousand miles up, I’m sometimes at a loss for things to do. Recently, flying home from Italy via Amsterdam, I started reading the KLM packaging. Not only did the flight magazine tell me that Amsterdam’s Concertgewau orchestra hall is … Continued
We were at the North Shore in a favorite cabin high above Lake Superior. No phone, no cell phone but the friends up the hill did. They received a phone call from our landlady: Fran’s mother had died in Tennessee.Fran, … Continued
Proud cat, but dead, to give his name to our entire furry tribe, Archie is the only one who ever traveled by car to the North Shore. He’s the only one better known (or regarded) up and down the avenue … Continued