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Letter from Palermo (Free verse) by Caducus
Rivers of cataracts
were hospice aisles,
where canteen zombies raped etiquette
bludgeoning my youth
as I waited for Grandmas high
when she'd call me her husbands name
until the drugs wore off
and she called me 'Giuseppe'
rubbing herself till I cried.
Syringe maidens and skin pinchers
Came to keep her 'comfortable'
As Nan asked for Tea
To be made in her Ming China cup.
I made her a tea with silver
In a plastic cup by plastic sheets
She whispered 'Giuseppe'.
On her eighty eighth birthday
Nan crawled by herself to a window
Watched the sun fall like memories,
Whispering I was told an Italian name
Before paling on the golden lino
Clasping a letter sent from Palermo.
I buried her with Grand Papa
but kept her ashes for the South Wind
to take her back to Giuseppe.
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