Sicilian Strategy
By: Charles Giuliano - Mar 19, 2020
Sicilian Strategy
When I was a child
During the war
Putting food on the table
No sugar, steak or butter
Roots in winter
Spam for dinner
Pretending it was ham
Came in a can
Pot on the stove
Every Saturday night
When dad would cook
Our Sunday meal
Such a big deal
Simmering slowly
With rationed meat
Sausages or braccioli
A special treat
Lots of pasta
Fish on Friday
Hated bony mackerel
Our Catholic family
Grace said together
Gathered round the table
Shopping with dad
Markets in North End
Whole salamis and cheese
Big ball of provolone
Cases of olive oil
Cans of tomato and paste
Ingredients for sauce
Stored in the basement
Dark scary room
A spooky place
Packed with pasta
Prince was our brand
The Sicilian strategy
Surviving hard times
Spaghetti and gravy
Long after war
When dad was cooking
Charles go get me
Sent to the cellar
With time less so
The stash slowly
Dwindled with peace
We liked Ike
Such a vivid memory
Perhaps this time
Rice and beans
America again at war
Global pandemic
Hunkered down at home
From now to when
Missing our friends