by Cristina Taliento
(The Coming Storm, Martin Johnson Heade, 1859, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York)
He said there’s a storm over there.
I said I forgot my glasses, can’t see.
He said take care of the vineyard when I’m gone.
I said I’ve got a hundred million things to do.
He said you're a big girl now, a hard rain is gonna fall.
I said what will I get in return, old man?
He said if I find the vineyard as I left it, you’ll have ten flasks of wine, five liters each.
I said not much of an offer, but I hadn’t expected much else.
He said take care of it, that’s the only thing that matters.
I said all right then, sooner or later you’ll come back anyway, won’t you?
He said there’s a storm over there.
