Yesterday’s Ribbons

( a poem for my children’s grandmother : Nonna Anna in Italy)

Nonna Anna, Sandra, Vivivanna (3 generations of Iaderosa’s) , Maddaloni, Caserta, Italy, 2024

In Nonna’s house:

The days fall away,

a colorful array

of leaves and moments,

laughter and time.

Nonna carefully

collates,

collects,

places …

one

by

one

in the bowl,

on the table,

rubber bands

and

string,

birthday bows

and

ribbons

hanging their bright tails over the edge …

remainders,

reminders.

Nonna’s kitchen with the balcony doors wide open to the evening air.

Then the late-autumn rains

blow open the balcony doors

with a bang

and

the bowl of ribbons and bows

wave and wag their tails ,

like delicate lace and leftover smiles.

Just as quickly as the doors flew open,

the wind shifts and guides the doors

back into place,

side by side

with the curtains swaying gently,

a polite curtsy to

yesterday.