they herded goats
and I spread out my feet in the sun
on capo san andreae –
black-eyed, seven-year-old and smiling
the oldest came and begged for cigarettes –
when he left,
he did three somersaults
and laughed –
brown-cheeked, tear-striped
the little one came
and sighing laid five yellow flowers
at my feet
on capo san andreae –