the Baker's Requiem

-the Baker’s Requiem-

Albert Pieroni, a first cousin,

A baker of Vienna breads and Italian pastries

On the north-side of Providence,—

A large-ring, double Corona smoking tough guy

Who lived across the street from Raymond Patriaca,
Notorious Rhode Island Crime Boss, who greeted
Each other across the driveways of the morning

Warm-ups,—

One ready to mix the batter,

Knead the dough for bread and sprinkle

Confections in powdered sugars;

The other ready to order the whacking 

Of regional Stool-Pigeons;

Cousin Albert, married to Celia,— gorgeous

Young woman of Spanish-Italian heritage,

Olive-skinned and graceful,

Whose shimmering dress

And perfect attitude of attendance

Captivated the eight-year old boy

Clogged with dusty nostrils from the infield slides;

Albert Pieroni, husband to Celia, baker to the local
Mafioso, is dead.

Albert Pieroni, old, frail and wheelchair confined;

The large-ring Double Corona smoking wiseguy

Reduced to producing long drools of spit
From the stroke of his mouth, is dead.

Crime-boss Raymond Patriaca’s
Saturated heart of fats
Had convicted him for the last time long before
Albert’s final breath.

Now Celia’s old, in mourning for Albert;
Husband, Tough-guy, Baker, Large-ringer;
Celia, grown tired of the well-wishers

Crowding her at the restaurant after the service
Soon to return to her house, north-side of Providence
With an eight year old infield-dusted kid forever in tow.