La Madonna Nera

I think of myself
caught up in back and forth
all damn day long
an hour to eat
an hour to sleep
I’ll barely get to see you
then I think of you
bent over the desk
with a rose in front of you
that will be mine
my faded one.

At the party on July tenth
when it was almost evening
the Black Madonna
got stuck
the authorities came with the railway
the whole sacristy
and the choir came with the melody
to save the gold and silver
the marble and concrete
the bronze and the vestments
and the upkeep
and from the jam that was there
we couldn’t get away
until ten at night
when the Black Madonna
we pushing and pulling
crying and hoping
leaning and shouting we
rose back up.

I think of you
leaning over the desk
with the rose in front of you
that will be mine
my wilted one
then I think of myself
caught up in back and forth
all damn day long
an hour to eat
an hour to sleep
all the damn days
all damn day long
all the damn days
all damn day long
all the damn days
all damn day long.

And so it be.