A QUARTERLY DEVOTED TO POEMS AND REVIEWS

 Getting Wiser
    by Giovanni Malito

I got a parcel form my mother 
today, packed with stuff. 
There’s a photo of you and me, 
each wearing sunglasses. Yours 
are heart-shaped. We’re 
semi-sunning it out in the backyard¾ 
you can’t be too careful with the u.v. 
Even so, I’d say we look pretty cool 
for a 40-year old new dad 
and a 6-month old grinning fox. 
I put the picture up with a tack 
on the bulletin board next to my desk. 
Who knows how many years  
it will stay up there. Although 
buried beneath calendars and memos, 
it’s gathering dust. Memos, memo¾ 
that’s short for memorandum, 
reminder or a just few letters short 
of memento. I think the photo 
is more than that. And I think  
I’ll go out right now and buy 
a white lacquer frame for us.