Italy

O’Malley thinks of Italy,
hills fecund and pastel.
He sees Mother Mary and 
his heart can’t breathe.
He turns then 
to the sea.
In Italy he imagines
only warm water;
what else could hold 
such fish that feed 
so light a people?
Mary stirs beside him 
and skirts rustle.
Not hers but those of
young Italian mothers 
pushing forth their days. 

KAREN HELMAN

Karen Helman lives in the San Francisco Bay area. Her poetry has appeared in Inlandia and Viewless Wings and as part of the City of Dublin (California) 2023 Poetry Walk.