Wild Dreams: The Best of Italian Americana

On the Square

100 on the square On the Square Anne Paolucci (1974) We’ll sit a while. The sun Is setting behind the Baron’s house, And church bells ring tired Old women to vespers. Here comes The overseer, back from the fields, His boots all caked with mud, A wide hat shadowing his face; In silence he passes by, confidence In every step that rings Against the cobblestones. Toothless old men greet him From their place beside the wall; From the shadows of the lane Comes the rumble of a cart Returning from its morning In the fields. This hour of dusk recalls Other men with other children By the hand, strolling Under a young sky and savoring Familiar Sunday smells. I too once had an old man To call home from the square As the day set and church bells Rang to rest another sun. Reprinted by permission of the author. ...