My Name on His Tongue: Poems

di dove sei?1

20 di dove sei?1 most people have a simple answer a one word that conjures home most people don’t get nervous dread this question in any language need help with the answer I don’t have a Here or There that tells my truth and I’ve noticed people don’t want a long story when they’re just trying to make conversation one warm afternoon on the Ponte Vecchio a solution lands on the tip of my very flexible tongue: la luna2 I practice my new answer with everyone I meet 1. where are you from? 2. the moon 21 (except Arabs because they’re okay with long stories) for days people (men in particular) laugh at my clever response tinged in mystery they ask all the right questions: did you come by rocket? are there more at home like you? can I come visit your homeland? from what I’ve seen it is beautiful! one evening a few days later Marco gives me a ride home on his motorcycle grabs my wrist after I get off di dove sei? he asks I get my answer over with quickly la luna it is almost dark his face is handsome in the shadows I see him looking deep into my eyes I am about to melt allora, sei lunatica3 he bursts out laughing 3. so you are a lunatic 22 I feel my face burn stammer grazie for the ride buona notte, bella he says letting go of my wrist e ciao lunatica he shouts just before driving off ...