A Poem for Giovanni

My friend Ed Covannon wrote a poem in honor of “Giovanni’s Tree,” the first story in my collection Giovanni’s Tree: New Italian Folktales.

When I told Ed that I loved his poem and asked him if I could post it here, he generously consented. I’m delighted to share “treasures” with you. Thanks, Ed!

treasures

The village knew the invaders were coming.
They dug pits big as coffins.

Beneath the pits, they dug deeper holes, 
Into these holes, they poured their treasures.

This being a village of magicians, the treasures were all magical.
The very earth seethed with magic.

They covered these deeper holes.
Above them, they placed the plain, empty, wood coffins.

They left.
Every one.

Not a dog, cat, cow, horse, goat, pig or bird was left.
Every single one – gone.

The invaders came.
Happy at first at the silence.

At first, but as they marched, someone noticed there were just as many coffins as invaders.

They counted.

Not one more.
Not one less.