Matthews Call

On the street to Damask

I keep   pocketing money

like a bear sucking  honey

There I'm  cashing  taxes

I come from Capharnao on the lake

 but here you surely will find me

For the Romans fiscal sake

in the sunny or windy day.

Until a beautiful day  comes

unexpectedly a light

Who changes the weeping in laugh

the collection into starling.

If something you still owe

Of tributes to the empire

Don’t look for the publican Mathew

Not for him anymore

He has stopped down

To be a tax collector

He travels with the Teacher

his boxes are empty now

But his  heart is full of joy

Whole days to pass

For the streets, for the paths

at the service of the Lord.

The Queen of Sheba

King Solomon's fame came

90. Up to the extreme edge of the Red Sea,

in the opposite side to that of north,

from where Moses, along the removed furrow,

the Jewish people, down in direction

of the Promised Earth, from  king’s fangs

95. of Egypt had saved!

Yemen, is called today; but to that time

[Kingdom of Sheba was named.]

Heard this fame, a queen,

Called Sheba, full of every wealth,

moved a beautiful morning,

100. to prove if his wisdom,

either usurped was or  genuine;

and she of thousand enigmas is equipped.

Every answer to the enigmas was given

From Solomon! And the queen was

[of him very fond.]

105. So she said to the king: then it was true

How much I had heard in   my country

On your account, wise king!

I had thought they were all lies; instead it is clear

That not even an  half they were of what you really

110. Possess of gold and  wisdom! Spread out

A carpet of praises, aromas and golds

At home she returned with the servants. 

Impossible to explain, dutyful to remember

If there is someone who knows, he must talk!

To tell us why the Son

has been torn from His Mother…

And the Brother from his Brother….

And why guiltless children?

And timeless old men?

Why?

I can still see them,

on spirit and flesh

fluctuating through the chimney pots

greeting us with a compassionate smile.

I, still hear barks and voices

assembling,

frightening,

dispersing,

chopping off bonds of affection:

we won't see them anymore.

I feel

the shame to be a man!

And the fear to be alive and to love!

But why

if even Jesus Christ,

from the Cross,

had already forgiven us!

Why?

Please , can somebody tell me why?

Please let talk those who can; let talk those who want it!

And you that Know about, please talk

I promise I will do it

For not to forget.

In Cagliari, January the 26/27 2005

The European Constitution

My dear Friend, after the cruel facts of Paris, who saw the death of seventeen people, I would like to offer you my following reflections. Primarily an embrace and condolences to  the entire French nation. Someone one day said " I'm don't agree with you, but I would fight to  death  for your right to say it"

 
You see, my friend, I don't agree on what   Charlie Hebdo publish about religious items, even in my youthness I used to like  religious and  political satire, but what Islamic fanatics have done  in Paris last week, at the redactionne of that satirical juornal, reminds me of the great masters of thought of the Enlightenment.

  In Paris the assassins have fired on our history, our culture, our time. I'm Practicing Catholic, but I also believe that's a great value to be able to choose between to believe and not to believe. 

Islamic terrorists killed the Charlie's vignettistes but  they did not kill the achievements of our civilization and our freedom.  

There is a gap between our culture and  those of the other continents of the world, those of other civilizations of the earth; but if we make a correct comparison we must speak of Christian culture from one hand and Islamic culture on the other.  

And now the question is: who is going to  fill the gap that separates our civilizations?  

I believe that would be a mistake to think that Islamic need to live their own age of Enlightment or, even worse,  than we should give up our achievements of liberty.

  And so? I think we Europeans we must report to the Islamists as Christians: both are civilizations and we must compare, trying to understand each other. I lived in Italy the epic of terrorists; there was, at that time, someone who said that the terrorists were mistaking  companions;  I don't know  if also Islamic terrorists are brothers who are wrong (that's a problem to be solved inside the Islamic culture); but I think that we, Europeans, all together, we need to be united to better relate to other cultures.  

Let's adavance with the  European Union, then, my friend. Let's drop the differences e mistrust between us and let's walk all together, not against, but forword to other cultures, affirming and confirming our cultural acquisitions. I embrace you and sent my best wishes for a 2015 full of happiness.

We might call It God

It's already  dawn  

somewhere in the east

 while the same sun

 is setting down

 yonder in  the west

 and seven billions hearts are throbbing

 all around the earth

 with their evil and good

moved by the same force

 that pushes the rivers, the seas and the stars:

 we might call It God

Mistery, Cosmos or Physics' Laws

 but that's It.

Amazed by Jesus

I was a shepherd 

longtime ago

somewhere in Bethlehem

watching my sheeps

Though I was waiting

for Someone to come

I could believe

only my sight

Then I saw a light

sparkling 'n  the sky

I heard a voice

singing with joy

I joined the star

aimed to see

the Glory of God

the King of glee

 I'm still astonished

looking today 

 as Jesus wanted 

choosing to stay 

The least of poorness

 neatness of magic

 plenty with nothingness

the brilliance of love

Please leave me Jesus

the eyes of a child

looking  the Crib

wondering while. 

Late reply from Cagliari - 1

Dear Elem, fourty-five years have gone past since you wrote me from Cornwall.

I've been surely answering you, in some way, somewhen. But I'm sure my reply have been cast in the phobias and contradictions of my juvenescence.

How are you, anyway?

We are both quite old ones now, aren't we? While adolescence is such a wonderful age, isn't it?

What I wanted to tell you is that you are also so handsome to me!!! And that Cornwall is so beatiful, and I will be soon coming to see you, with or without a friend for Carol!!!

But our teens are so silly and shy, my dear friend!!!

It does n't really matter what you might be doing now, but I'm going to come to see you over there!

Can you imagine it, Elem?

Oh, probably you wont recognize the handsome boy you wrote I was.

Now I'm an old, slightlyfat and almost  hairless man...

Don't worry, elem, I would send you a picture of me before leaving...though I realize you might not be there anymore... in theRock at Wadebridgre...

Let's say that. if you answer this letter, it will mean that you still there... Oh that would be fantastic!!!

'See you seen my dear Elem. Love form Cagliari, Sardinia. Reply soon if you can. George