busyWarning: This poem is paired with "The Treasure of Happiness," each revealing how the characters think about themselves and each other, but in mirror images -- there are things they haven't figured out how to communicate yet. They have some rough emotional history which may cause headspace issues for readers who've had similar experiences. The tone of the actual poems is positive, though; these folks are very good for each other.
Spoiler alert! These poems are based on characters Glyn and Ruggiero, created by myself and
"The Strength to Persevere"
Glyn isn't sure that Ruggiero
really understands what
he means to her,
that he's the first person
who ever stuck up for her
without being asked or obligated,
who wanted her for herself
and not because she was
somebody else's friend,
who above all has
not just the desire but
the power to protect her.
She doesn't know
how to tell him, so
she tries to show him,
with home-cooked meals
and housekeeping so that
he doesn't have to worry about it,
with the carefully organized tubs of
tools and supplies for the apartments
so his people will be comfortable,
with her mindful obedience
that for once isn't grudgingly given
out of habit, but out of true respect.
Glyn knows that Ruggiero is different
from the other people in her life,
from her parents and her friends' parents.
He gives her the strength to persevere
even when her body aches and
her mind is exhausted.
So when he says, "Are you sure you
want to go through with this, Piccolina?
We could still find you a placement in the States..."
she looks him in the eye and replies,
"I want to stay connected with you,
Zio Forte. You are my strength."
* * *
Notes:
"A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles."
-- Christopher Reeve
Perseverance is a virtue of continuing past obstacles, and a key trait of heroes that you will find under the cape.
Italian nicknames signify affection and belonging. Piccolina means "little one" with the feminine ending -a. Zio means "uncle" and can refer to any male of your father's generation or thereabouts. Forte is Italian for "strong" or "fortress" but also French for "a talent" or "the strongest part." Ruggiero is actually a title rather than a personal name, taken from Sicilian puppet theatre, but has become his use-name to the point he rarely uses anything else. See the puppet Ruggiero here.
