Margherita

A few tables, a few chairs
Set up for the seance
Cheese on bread, you say
Time tunnel, it could be argued
Transportation system of the central nervous
Receptors jumping ships
Electrons swapping routes
And, bam
You're in Persia
Encampment outside a great battle
On pause for the night
Take out your shield
Place it over the fire
Now flour and water
Cheese and dates
Begin that journey
Then, bam
Five centuries later
You're in Pompeii
Nursing a hangover
Grabbing a slice
R.E.M. is not playing on the radio
But you admire the lyrics
Bam
You're in Rome
Turn of the century
A gentleman who knows things: Marcus Gavius Apicius
He tells you to put chicken on your pie
He tells you of the Greeks
And of pitta
And before you know it, bam
You're in Chicago
It's your kind of town
And Napoletana is your kind of food
Thank goodness the Americas dumped some tomatoes
So many years earlier
And thank goodness the peasants always use everything
Because now, the Queen has fare
And knows what the hubbub is about
Rennins ablaze with life
A low hum in your tunnel
You, too, are a part of this time
Your cells also mysteriously shaped
Like circles
With pathways
For things to run
This way and that
No true north
Only center
Where all points meet
Until there are no points
Only a few edges
Remnants for archeologists
Looking to tie things together
Connect tunnels
Reenact simple stories
Pie charts
Cutting tools
Pans
Shields
The curious lack of utensils


Gennaro Lombardi