it was 1904
the year Ithalia was born
to Fortunato and his darling Louisa
and 5 years since the move
from north Italy to Ashtebula
north ohio's river-mouth town
two hours east of Cleveland

with nothing but a rosary
made seven kids a family
that prayed the sacred mysteries
together
she wasn't in to fancy things
she was good as far as she could see
it couldn’t get much fancier to her
than a rosary
and a wedding ring
and a simple strand of bright white pearls

it was 1924
the year Ithalia let Fortunado
walk her down the aisle to marry Victor
so it came to be that Ithalia got her
wedding ring
and Victor couldn't get it on her finger
any quicker

they made a home in north Detroit
a daughter and two altar boys
and all could pray the rosary together
the butcher loved the butcher's wife
happy home and happy life
and the good lord heard his thanks each
night from her
and her rosary
for her wedding ring
and a simple wish for bright white pearls

when the world waged war on one
another
Ithalia was a soldier's mother
her rosary grew worn from all her prayers
for his return
and somewhere there in the pacific
a son recalled his mother's wishlist
and had a mikimoto necklace hand-tied
just for her

In 1960 Victor died
and left Ithalia here behind
to age and beam with pride
on all the grandkids
and my own mom was one of those
and since the day that she was born
she always adored when grandma Ithalia
wore her favorite necklace

few years before my nana died
she pulled my mother aside
and said “while im alive these eyes have
gotta see these on you, girl.”
then the calendar turned the century
and Ithalia died with family
and everything she wanted in the world
her rosary
and her wedding ring
and a family strand of bright white pearls

my mother had 10 pearls removed
and saved em all in sets of two
and for every first communion
each of her own five granddaughters
get a rosary
and a shiny pair of earrings
made from dear Ithalia’s pearls