God’s hand reaches, close.

I’m overwhelmed by heat

on this tour bus.

​

I ponder Michelangelo’s

The Creation of Adam

humidity seeps me asleep

​

Adam stretches

            …almost

​

Peregrine falcons mate

in nearby olive tree

uomo, uomo

​

avian silhouettes shadow

St. Peter’s fading duomo

​

God touches Adam

            duomo collapses

            slo-mo rubble

​

my eyes open slightly

…awake/asleep

sharpening sun

reflects broken glass

​

falcons uncouple

race skyward

​

uomo, uomo

man, man

they say

​

thoughts drift to Mrs. Kreiger

eleventh grade English class

​

She searches for me

among charm of finches

            chirping, chirping…

​

and listens to RCA victrola

it’s stuck, scratchy

​

Nipper the dog barking

at victrola horn    as if

something is wrong

​

beautiful dreamer

beautiful dreamer

beautiful dreamer

​

oak branch blows

a breeze that turns violent

finches scatter

​

distant duomo

disappears

​

swingin’ on a star

swingin’ on a star

stuck on victrola

Nipper barks

​

un uovo hatches

I fly over the Tiber

​

there are so many of us

we fill the sky

words cover the sun

​

Mrs. Kreiger sits among

wild flowers, reading

​

eyes on me

​

call me Julia

call me Julia

she says

​

art is life

artist life

​

Nipper digs in the dirt

wanders off

high hopes is stuck

on the victrola

​

high hopes

high hopes

Nipper looks confused

barks weakly

​

Thank you Julia

Thank you Julia

though I never really

knew your name

knew your name

 

Adam releases

and slips back to

 

oh so close

 

...I awaken