After Lucky’s Trattoria

for Luciano Morselli, 1935‒2024

The first time I dined at Lucky’s Trattoria,

I’m sure I chose beef ravioli in garlic cream sauce

from the plastic sleeved menu, while Lucky preened

in his breeches and rainbow-striped braces,

though memory fails me on so many matters.

After splitting the bill, we danced at the Terminus,

where the floor show lip-synched the Angels until

the police raided. Then we’d retreat to the Cockatoo Club

at the Beat where the girls snuggled close

whenever some feller invited me home.

Lucky would greet me as ‘Il Dottore!’ or ‘Il Professore!’

as he pranced between tables, gifting marsala in egg cups,

while the speakers blared Puccini opera. We became

Friday regulars: you, me and the other three,

downing a cask of de Bortoli chardonnay

too fast to hold down pappardelle and deep-fried artichokes

when we got in our cars and drove towards tomorrow.

Now Lucky’s gone, there is nowhere for after.

Andrew Leggett of North Queensland is an author and editor of poetry, fiction, interdisciplinary academic papers, reviews and songs. His latest collection of poetry, “Losing Touch”, was published by Adelaide’s Ginninderra Press in 2022. He is an Adjunct Associate Professor with the James Cook University College of Medicine and Dentistry.

Readers’ original and unpublished poems of up to 40 lines can be emailed, with postal address, to [email protected]. Submissions should be in the body of the email, not as attachments. A poetry book will be awarded to each accepted contributor.