My Charming Campanian Town

Baiano is my charming Campanian town, at the foot of the Paterno's mountain, noble roman settlers came to build their villas, but the barbarians and Spartacus ransacked it; then other invaders: the Normans, the Hungarians, the Swedish and Spaniards occupied it! Baiano is an ancient town, not as widely famous as many northern towns, but keeps up with the modern times; come here in springtime, and see the season's enchantment: sunflowers and lilies fields spread out in the misty distance... as the orange and apple trees dress in green and wait for the magical summer for that palatable fragrance! In the soccer fields, kids play in the hot afternoons while their parents watch them from colorful shades; the elders sit in their comfortable plastic chairs, napping under the shade of a casual oak tree,so tall, planted by a student on Earth Day many summers ago... and he proudly stands by it counting its living years! O adorable town, left by me, for social reasons when I was forced to flee and leave this youth undone, with friends I hung out in the church's yard... to kick that ball in the net, and become elated; could I have gotten all that energy from the southern sun, which has nothing to envy the colder northern one! From the wide steps of the Gothic church with a sturdy door, I raised those childish eyes and gazed at the beautiful facade, and wondered what inspired the architect to build such an immortal monument so heavily damaged by the last earthquake, but the Baianese people brought it to its previous splendor! In my charming Campanian town without a stream, there is a large square with oak trees on both sides, and right in the middle the Fallen Soldiers' monument... for the brave ones who went up north to fight the invaders; and the blood they shed was for my freedom, and these verses will be read by everyone in the land! Neighbors and friends you have gotten older or passed away, and all of you who are alive: lament with me its by-gone glory! Copyright 2008 by Andrew Crisci