Joan Poulson
Maria Vittoria della Verde
At eighteen, eyes clear as Perugian mountain air,
she gave herself in marriage to the church;
at San Tommaso discovered her heart's love.
At first she confessed but accepted without question
the Holy Mother's words:
Talents offered in service carry no sin.
Blemish-free as mountain Gorgonzola,
she would murmur, roasting fennel
and Pecorino, drizzling juice of pomodoro,
sprinkling in porcini and wild thyme;
lyres and tabors dancing in her head.
As years passed she experienced new
and delicious sensations, kept her silence;
felt she might swoon stuffing pigeon with basil,
prunes and Parmigiano; browning rabbit, sage
and garlic in sizzling butter.
(Crossed herself, a quick Niente, at hare).
Notebooks fragrance her cell, whisper madrigals
to the sun's radiance: rosmarino, dragoncello.
Moisture slithers between her breasts
and shoulder-blades. Her lips curve...
selecting purple grapes, crushing
the misted fruit in her hands. Juices drip
into a salt-glazed pot.
For simple decoration sweet Ricotta...
cheese-clouds eased through the grater
glove her hands like softest kid.
She licks fingers, thumb.
So much more effective than using a spoon.
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