To Cesare, Goodbye

Cesare,

with those Medici eyes

you could go far

I said.

But you’ve never

been away from Tuscany

except for a cousin’s wedding

in Milano.

I said come with me to Spain.

Spain you said and laughed.

Too far away—

even Rome is too expensive.

You were waiting for

that job at the post office,

a letter from an uncle

that might help.

Maybe one day

I will see you in America

I said.

Maybe

you said.

And laughed.