Tremor

A sunny day in Rome
I’m at my window
Looking at the courtyard down below
Bernard Haring liked to trot around it
The fittest theologian that I know

It’s lunchtime and I’m waiting now for Tony
Returning from the ‘Biblicum’ to dine
We like a G&T before descending
To tackle all the pasta and the wine

Oh life is hard when studying in Roma
Pasta and the vino on the go
And lectures every day for a diploma
Certificate on my wall now, don’t you know!

I pour a glass I say
I’ll start without him
When suddenly, a ‘dizziness’ occurs
My God, this gin is strong
Or else my tummy’s empty
And that is why I feel a funny stir

‘Did you feel it?’ said our Tony on arriving
‘The tremor of the earthquake just back then’
A quake apparently in the Naples region
Sent tremors all the way up to my den

Thank God for that I thought
And pouring him a good one
I raised my glass the good life now to cheer
A tremor south by Naples I can cope with
But giving up the gin – now that I’d fear

Brian Fahy
13 May 2021