A simple film reveals to me
Our basic human drives
The forces that often govern us
In the way we live our lives
L’Ultimo Paradiso
Set in Italy
Apulia’s deep southern toe
Beautiful poverty
Power and greed rule the roost
Respect and honour too
Vendetta when a wrong is done
What’s done to me I do to you
And Omerta the silence
Preserves the status quo
Nobody speaks nobody says
But everyone will know
Remote and rural places
Out of the way locale
The struggle to keep face is
The rule of life for all
Alfonso on his missions
Saw families destroyed
Vendetta and that Omerta
The rule of life employed
The simple folk of Italy
No different from us here
We too are given to vengeance
Our silences severe
The film was a true story
In Apulia long ago
Its lessons they are up to date
Mind now how you go
Brian Fahy
13 December 2021
Erris Poetry 