by Alan Bern

Winter trees bide
they gate

Orta’s Sacro Monte pathway,


branches, bared to pale bark,

lift death’s face.


Lean Francesco, in stone, overlooks.


His stick-crucifix
held in cold air.


A first step it takes many
to sound out Francesco’s words
chiseled at Chapel VI,


“go dear ones… announce peace and penance…
be patient… bless and thank everyone,”

just up Viale Frate Vento,
the Avenue of Brother Wind.

Though I falter in penance,
peace mumbled beyond me,

I walk back down a stony path
with loosened heart humming
every
one. 


///

            let us learn from the stones
                                             silence


                                 San Francesco

 
speak speak  
a cheek a face
pleads
down on 

stones 

            steam

huddled with face
smooth on stone
the other foot
cold stone 

flies move
in the wounds of the dead
and the living 


the dead can read
even if they may not hear 
open eyes and look out

speaking into the ear
of the corpse

---

Retired children’s librarian, Alan Bern, is the author of three poetry books and is an exhibited/published photographer. Recent awards include: honorable mention for Littoral Press Poetry Prize (2021); first runner-up for Raw Art Review’s Mirabai Prize for Poetry (2020); medal from SouthWest Writers for a WWII story set in Assisi (2019). Recent/upcoming writing and photo work in Raw Art Review, HAUNTED WATERS PRESS, Aletheia Literary Quarterly, CERASUS, Feral,Please See Me, Artemis Journal, and Mercurius. Alan performs with dancer/composer Lucinda Weaver as PACES: dance & poetry fit to the space and with musicians from Composing Together. Lines & Faces, his illustrated broadside press with artist/printer Robert Woods: linesandfaces.com. 

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