Italy is the land of beauty corrupted
I was there
I followed a dream
I lived
A life
Of poverty
I had no money
No job
No prospects
Still
I took a bus to the South to bask in the shadow of the volcano.
I hopped on the bus with no ticket
I saw land
Farms
Color and work
I found the old city
I followed a tourist group into Pompei
I saw ancient death and destruction
I saw the ruin the Earth can make
I saw the sudden end of life and history preserved.
I shared a sandwich with an Italian girl
And nothing more
For free
I hopped another bus back to Naples
I again paid no fair
And fell asleep
I woke to a tap on my shoulder
I see brown eyes
Grey hair
Tan skin
A blue wrinkled shirt
A badge hung crooked
A leather strap over a shoulder
A revolver in a holster
Cop scowl
Dove è il vostro biglietto?
I smiled
Io No comprendo
He took my shirt in a heavy fist
He pulled me out of my seat
He marched me off the bus
I heard whispers of oh my God
I felt my heart thump hard and fast and scared
In the heat
On the street
Near the Napoli garbage
The cop asked
Dove è il passaporto
He was angry
I thought about Naples jail
I thought about experiencing
The world
So what the fuck
I smiled
Dove è il passaporto
The cop was getting excited
I put my hands behind my back
I wondered whether I was going to get beat
I wondered if I was going to get shook down
I remembered
I have no money.
I am in Naples
I smile
Io no comprendo
The cop took a step
Towards me
I waited to see
Instead of touching me
Arresting me
Making me suffer
He pursed his lips and phished in my direction
And waved his hand
Dismissing me
And walked away
I smiled
and turned to the bay
The sun was setting
I basked in the orange glow of a crescendoing Italian day
I wondered what to do tomorrow
Maybe catch a train
Maybe see Firenza
Maybe go back to Roma
But it does not matter
I decide once again
Italy is the land of beauty corrupted
Stories 