landing in Italy

setting down out of the clouds

we had our first glimpse

of the sea edge of Italy’s knee

fields of intermingled oblongs

of field, a few guarded by hedges

and December-green trees

and thick-walled, multi-story

farmhouses picturesque as antique

oil paintings anticipating our adventure in Rome

aruna

a gentle peace corps volunteer

in fiji meets vivacious, adventurous

beauty and falls into a love that lasts

decades of shared sorrows, accomplishments and joys

his service to the world has built

the core of his full world

reward enough and plenty