If Soul Were A Country

IF SOUL WERE A COUNTRY

La bella Italia,
Land of cypress set in stone,
Jewel of the Mediterranean.

Before the shadows of night are gone,
Hold fast to the 'moon with a bite,'
For it will be made whole again.

Your spirit cannot be contained,
Come, walk into your garden,
We listen for your voice.

The evocative sequence of joy,
With the power of love's surprise,
So familiar, and treasured by all.

—G. B. Congdon, 22nd March 2020

The poem is dedicated with love to Bergamo, Italy where I have family. Prayers pour in from around the world during the pandemic, add mine. The kids play in Lucca's piazza in Tuscany, spring 2000. The "moon with a bite" is what Black Elk called the quarter moon.

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