home made

my grandfather
my nonno made
this little chair
for my sister
the first of us
it was a smaller
version of one
he made for
my grandmother
just as we were
smaller versions
of the patriarchs
and matriarchs
in our Italian
family that fed
us the best food
quiet love and
loud voices
he made the
things they
needed to live
he made his
sons into men
as much as he
was able he made
me feel safe as we
watched Gun Smoke
and Wild Kingdom
and witnessed
Bruno Sammartino
dominating in the
ring representing
the power of
crossing an ocean
when we grew older
my grandmother used
the little chair to retrieve
what was out of reach
it’s mine now and each
time I step on it I reach
for what they gave to me

Cinse Bonino
2024