The Pilgrim... Happy Father's Day Pops

Autumn 2004, Rome Italy. Dad and I enjoying a toast with friends at a trattoria before heading home.

It started out of a windfall, I remember

Wanting to visit the Saints

I initiated the motion, like a painter without paints

No clue did I have, what it meant to journey alone

At that time we couldn't even, take our cell phones

I told dad, "Dad, I'm going to Italy" soon and won't run

Startled he said "I'm going with you too, son!"

It was Autumn in the year, 2004

Before I knew it, we were out the door

(For what turned out to be a whirlwind bus tour)

The Boot, The Boot, went North, South, North again

Barely enough time to pick up a writing pen

To send back a postcard... or two

To mom who was jealous, of our flying off... it's true

We flew into Rome, then drove down to Pompeii

Capri and Sorrento, what can I say

Amalfi off limits cause we didn't have the money

The extras, the extras, dad said "that's okay sonny"

The truth was our budget just wouldn't allow us

Perhaps another time, just sit back and don't fuss

The sights though, our fellow traveler's were all good

All different kind of backgrounds enjoying this food

Yes food for the belly but also the soul

The good life exists, just in another world

We visited Saint Francis, Saint Anthony, and many a church

Of course there was Florence, and Pisa, and places to search

For that magic I was looking, so desperately for

It wasn't always easy, but left me wanting more

I borrowed a camera, before I had left

And fortunately took pictures, the old kind were best

Light striking film, an image to form

Not all were good, but I've sifted them to warm

My heart that is recently, some twenty years later, at last

Tomorrow's Father's Day here, it'll be 40 days since he passed

My father, my friend, my confidant true

We became like brother monks travelling

(An elder and new)

We visited St. Peter's, then made our way home

The plane trip was stifling, but worth it to roam

Rome was a blur but we got a good taste

Now were flying back to home base

Oh mom wasn't happy, that we left her to fend

Dad said "don't worry son, fences will mend"

Finally she relented, when she had saw

The look on my face... I was in awe

Awwww, I know, isn't that cute

All mushy and gushy, I was such a "toot"

Here I'll share some pics of that DIFFICULT, but FUN trip

Pilgrimage for me, but dad turned it into a sip

From the cup of abundance that helped break that shell

You see my life was an internal hell

Miracles, Miracles, yes they do happen

Fight for them peacefully and get help when your snapping

That's a sign that something's amiss

Enough of that now though

Just enjoy the pics!