

The end of spring in Giove
Spring is almost over in Giove and everyone is catching up. Everywhere the comune is cleaning the grass skirting the edge of the road with a weed-whacker. Something startles the orange clad and masked workman. Looking non-plussed he has killed a snake. He stares at me shame-facedly, as if to say I didn’t mean to; that is, I don’t want any more bad luck this year. Winter work in June Old men are out cutting down trees and burning the thick foliage, a March task. The grass was