Best of Italy

A SOLDIER AWAY FROM HOME


Written by Glen Gregory Kelly at the age of 11


As I run across the fields of grey,
Will I make it, I hope, I pray.

And now and then I think of home.
The beautiful streets I used to roam.

The house I built by the sea,
There a child waits for me.

A loving mother by her side,
Along the beach we used to stride.

But now I know my uneasy fate.
As I listen,
watch,
and wait.




About Glenn Gregory Kelly
Glenn Gregory Kelly is a young poet and burgeoning author from Calgary, Alberta, Canada. His first work, "A Soldier Away From Home, was written for Remembrance Day and published at age 11. Glenn believes his poetry and literary works are inspired by the beauty that is found in everyday life, expressed by the subtle eb and flow of language.



Those of you who know me, are aware that the Battle of the Moro River near Villa San Leonardo in Abruzzi Italy occurred amidst my maternal grandfather's grapevines, land my family still owns and cherishes today. Due to my grandfather's diligence, his entire family survived the bombing of their home and the warfare in their back yard by fleeing to nearby caves that flanked the banks of the Moro River. There they lived for 8 long, hungry months, surviving on the charity of Canadian and U.S. soldiers and whatever else they could forage from the land.

When I first heard this poem, it moved me deeply, especially because the young talent behind it was only 11 years old when he wrote it. I am grateful to him for allowing me to publish it on my blog.

By virtue of this poem, and in honor of Rememberance Day, we pay homage to the many civilians and soldiers who found themselves together in such a tiny, unlikely village in cold rainy month of November of 1943.

My sincerest thanks to Glenn Gregory Kelly, who willingly allowed me to publish his beautiful words and to permit me to use it in my own, personal way on behalf of my family. It is a priceless gift and a wonderful treasure, a fitting tribute to the valiant.

We shall never forget.

Ever since I was a child, I've been fascinated with women who choose to live a life of seclusion and sacrifice in a convent or monastery. So when I saw this novel by Sarah Dunant, one of my favourite authors, I immediately ordered it.

The novel explores how many women were forced to enter monasteries in Renaissance Italy, and its effects on the cloister and the individuals who lived therein. Meticulously researched, I found the entire novel fascinating. It is a tale well told and one I will definitely keep on my book shelf as an all time favourite.

Who hasn't dreamed of owning or driving a Ferrari these days? I certainly have. I stumbled across this video on the making of a Ferrari and thought it would be fun to share it with you. As usual, the Italians never do anything half-well. Their attention to detail and meticulousness is evident here.

I just finished reading this novel last night. It's a wonderful, heartwarming story of Tuscany and the people in a tiny forgotten village. I loved this story for its brilliant characters and the emotions it draws from you as you read it. A gentle, comfortable read, the authors prose is brilliant and often humorous.

Back Cover Blurb:

A magical story of love...and miracles.
After twenty years, Leo Pizzola has come back to the Tuscan village of Santo Fico, still single and still looking for a way to get rich. The town is as poor as it was when Leo left, yet some things have changed. Of Leo's childhood companions, only little guido whom everyone calls "Topo," embraces him. His best friend is long dead. The woman he once adored refuses to talk to him. And worse of all, the kindly old town priest seems to have lost his faith. Perhaps what Santo Fico needs is a miracle - even if Leo and Topo have to manufacture one themselves. Now, as one botched scheme after another unravels, something completely unexpected happens, and wonders indeed begin to transform this Italian town, including the greatest miracle of all.

Published around the world, this debut novel sparkles with the Italian spirit and emotions that will dance off the page and into your heart.

The First Line:

Sleep was the enemy.

How would you like to be invited to dinner and then find out that you are the dinner. Well, that's exactly what happened to a few unsuspecting businessmen invited over for dinner by a local Mafia boss in Italy.

While searching for weapons at the home of this particularly hard-nosed mob boss, the anti-Mafia police squad stumbled upon a Caiman crocodile on the man's terrace. The creature weighed 88 pounds and was almost 6 feet in length. The mob boss kept the croc well-fed on a diet of live rabbits and mice. Apparently, the mob boss would take his invited guests up to the terrace and threaten to set the beast loose on them if they didn’t pay him extortion money and give him whatever favours he requested. Nice!

That particular species of crocodile originates from South America. No one knows how the man managed to smuggle the creature into Italy, although I'm sure the Italian police will try to find that out. Needless to say, charges are pending.

The creativity of the Mafia is often shocking. I once learned of a man who was told by the mafia to kill himself or be killed by them. The man did as told and dived headfirst into a well.