To rise out of the mist each morning
into a version of The Peacable Kingdom

feeling as dumbly content as Mr. Hicks’s lions
for the first hour or two, and then

to confront the beauty of Umbria
and person — correction: persons — all
concerned with (one way or another)
improving the intelligence of the species
of ape we are —-

is a gift and delight that occurs
in few civitellas of this planet

this planet — – such as it is now,
still struggling on,
trying to leave a record

perhaps no more permanent than the head
of Ruggiero Cane, “Khan” Condottiere
who returned from his wars
to rebuild his castle and commnunitas

later resuscitated –
and truly renewed — by Ursula,
saintly person, whose love still sustains us

here — among persons
of light and delight