On a Saturday Afternoon

1. Setting out
 We got a late starton a broken sky Saturdayin mid Septemberthe monththat straddles summer’s searingAugust heat,and pumpkin,butternut squash,and onion time. 
2. University Circle, Cleveland
 I took my sonto a chalk festival onUniversity Circle,at the Wade Oval Lagoon,which the art museum overlooks.I love the art museum,and the culture here,but honestly can’t dealwith artists or intellegencia.Everybody,everybody is in college herepersuing ego,persuing drama or music;things I love.But I can do withoutthe sharp facial lines,the glasses.Joshua and Iare from peasant stockand look shabby.And right now Iam in  love with shabby,uncombed hair. But we stroll along,
watching the heavily talented,and the moderately talentedadd depth and shadeon cold cementwhile children,adultsand the elderly nearlytrample their work.(This is not to mentionthe possibilty of rain!) 
3. Bellflower
 We go back to the carbecause it is cold,despite the sun.(it is September, after all.)I take a few roundsin a foot raceup and down a seeminglyM.C. Escher inspired staircaseon Bellflower road,near where I parked.Foolishly Ihave just put moneyin the parking meter,knowing we will be leaving soon.There are still thingsI want to exploreand not muchtime left. 
4. Lakeview Cemetery
 At 4:30 I took my sonto Lakeview Cemeterynear Murray Hill.We had intended to pass throughon our way to Little Italybut the Chapman headstonemade me stop the car.It was notas I found outRay Chapman.Still we walked up
past hundreds of graves,many fromthe nineteenth century;the history of lives livedmuch the same as ours.I taught the boywhat a masoleum isas we peeked our headsinto darkened windows cakedwith a hundred years of dustand settled dirt.As we left we sawthe grave of a woman,buried by her husband.The woman’s namewas not revealed,
and only that of her spouse.There were no other graves here,so where,
so where is Mr. Rudolph?Mrs. Rudolph diedin 1906.So where is Mr. Rudolph? 
5. James Garfield's Tomb
 Another half milepast increasinglygarish monuments and headstonesstands the tombof James Garfield,the twentieth Presidentof the U.S.Joshua attempts to openthe large wooden doors,but I assure himthey are permanently sealedfor the respect of the dead.(though this in fact,  is not true.)A long, loud bell tollssignalling 30 minutesuntil the gates closeand we hurry backdown the hill,passingthe Rockefeller monument,a giant obselisk,and the tombs of many wealthy.They are all dead.Everyone,everyone here is deadand leaves everything behind.But for usit is onto Little Italy.

6. Murray Hill, Little Italy Mayfield Road -Murray Hill -and weslip in toAnthony’sfor Pannini and pizza.I tell my sonthat if he finishes his slicewith pesto and fresh tomatohe and I will havefresh gelato from the freezer case.I select a panniniwith hot capicolagenoa salmi,and melted provolone.There is Italian music hereas "La Banda" performs.The walls are thick red,and the people robust.Joshua indeeddoes get his gelato,though I atehalf his pizza.After all,fathers must be fathers sometimes,and sometimesfathers must be buddies.We will head back to the carand go home. 
7. Westward
 And the last thing we seeas we head westis that broken cloud skyover Lake Erie.