BROWSE Columns
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Settebello, proclaims Nonna, as I sweep il quattro di bastoni and tre di coppe from the table with my beautiful seven. Sette d’oro, seven sun-faced gold coins—the luckiest card in Scopa. The only standalone point. Sicilian deck, squat red box, purchased from Cavalli in North Beach, kept in side-table drawer. Forty numberless cards, adorned with dogs, fish, houses, ship, jug, dueling couple, tambourine player. Each, a story. Early lessons in counting. We played for hours.
Magic seven: days of the week, days of creation, sacraments, holy mysteries, Roman hills, the life-count of Italian cats, rainbow colors. Sono al settimo cielo!
Luisa M. Giulianetti is a Bay Area writer. Her debut collection, Agrodolce (Bordighera Press), was released in 2023. Her work has appeared in various journals including Italian Americana, Rattle, and River Heron Review. She retired from an over 30-year career at UC Berkeley and enjoys cooking, gardening, hiking, and exploring the expansive beauty of the place she calls home. She credits her poetry group for keeping her energized and hopeful. @sognisiciliani (IG), @luisamaria.bsky.social.
