RAGAZZIMENTO No. FIVE: "Where have all the Flowers gone?"

Our man dave delacroix/rock star/LORD BORGO/Ragazzi No. FIVE: "WHERE HAVE ALL THE FLOWERS GONE?"


(...I like to think of THIS "canzone" as my most "sensitive" song. A slow one. -filled with atmosphere, acknowledgement of OTHER peoples "feelings" and MAXIMUM sensitivity, alround! -ERGO:

CANZONE: Ragazziment No. 5.... (Apres Beethoven)

"Where have all the flowers gone?
 Long Time, passing?
Where have all the Flowerws gone,
 long time ago?

Where has all the PUSSY gone?
 Long time passing?
 Where has all the Pussy gone gone?
 -long time ago?
GOT KNOCKED-UP BY SOME FRICK IN BALTIMORE;
 now she's got 3 Snot Nosed Kids/
 looks like a Bag of Spuds!
hate's the frickin' WORLD/
 stares at the NEW YORK TIMES
/don't read/ Votes Republican!..
 When will they ever learn?
When will they ever learn?...

(Singing:) "Goodnite IRENE
Goodnite IRENE
I'll see you in my dreams."......:)

c 2013/davedelacroix/lord borgo/piacenza/italia.....:)

Our Man in Europe/dave delacroix/Ragazzimento: part 4: "Piacenza Deluxe"

Our Man in Europe/davedelacroix/RAGAZZIMENTO: part 4: "PIACENZA DELUXE".


Count Pontefranca, when "in town", drinks at CAFE DESIRE on the Corso Vittorio Emanuelle II.. Yes folks. Yet another frickin' COUNT... Obviously, I'm the only sonofabitch in these parts that DOESN'T!
O.K. No more "Count" jokes... Nonetheless, I get by with my good looks, fashion-ista attire, and - I guess - having the COOLEST address within Piacenza's ancient city walls MUST count for something?
(Baddaboom!) -the HOTEL DAVE has become something of a  local legend/fixture on the Aristocrats/cheating on their spouse's circuit... Sometimes I feel - "like a Motherless Child" - like JACK LEMMON in the Neil Simon movie, THE APARTMENT, except that I DON'T have to crash elsewhere. (The HOTEL DAVE boasts 3.5 rooms!)... I could tell you some stories, but this IS a "family" blog: Piacenza Deluxe: Wotchagonnado?

Count Pontefranca? Debonair sonofabitch. Old VINO family, 20 miles South on the Apennines hills' slopes. His latest consort? Bridgitta! Buxom wench with dubious I.Q.. Great smile though!
...I'd ran out of San Matteo, Trebbiano vino Bianca. They carry it at a "super-mercato" off the piazza Cavalli: (1.5 liters: @  €1.72 a'pop!)... Only problem? -SIX cafe/bars line my route: Passing on by? "Ciao Dave!" from each one (the Ragazzi)... So, a 10 minute preamble or 5 minute DASH - dependant on alcohol thirst - turns into TWO HOURS: "Arrivederci, 20 bucks!" -the "San Matteo", ergo, actually costs €21.70! -Piacenza Deluxe: Wotchagonnado?

Oh! Yes! (I) Ran into Count Pontefranca, christened: Andreas, the NEW gal, Bridgitta; big smile. Guffaws, UN-lady-like when she's loaded (In vino veritas)... GOT an "invite" to the (Pontefranca) family estate next weekend, though. And, as the January climate is definitely AL DENTE, I think I'll go. Piacenza Deluxe: Wotchagonnado?...

c 2013/davedelacroix/lord borgo/cavalli di campagna/piacenza/italia

Our Man in Europe/dave delacroix/RAGAZZIMENTO! -part 3: "Belevedere/ROMA"

Our Man in Europe/davedelacroix/Ragaazimento! -part 3: "Belevedere/ROMA"...

What I remember most was the bilious air, the via Corso, tired feet and the shrub clad, enshrouded monolith of Octavian's (Emperor Augustus's) mausoleum...which we did not enter.
I remember You atop the Pincio Hill (definitely a "belevedere") from where you can view History AND eternity; least ways, man-made.
We were tired from our pilgrimage. (The coliseum/trevi fountain/Forum/several bars). You laid, casual, on a park bench under deciduous canopy. You were "napping", dreaming, 10,000 miles away, like me, from home...and We were One.

People, tourists, ambled by but did not stare. Something to come, perhaps? The atmosphere. The air was quite still. Expectant.
Then the Storm said, "Bonguorgno!" -thunderclaps, lighting struck St Peter's basilica dome, and the rain bucketed down!
...We ran like children. Sometimes we stopped in doorways, gambling on the downpour ceasing. Then dashed to the nearest Cafe-bar, soaked to the skin, careless!

The Pantheon, that - still intact - ancient "heart-beat" of Rome, pulsed in the after-downpour humidity. Mickey's Osteria, "Miscellenania Cafe", adjacent, gathered our "esprit", folds!
We ordered, "Only the best!"
Later, at our hotel, what I remember most? -showered, toweled, wrapped and warm; how I missed You and I at the Belevedere?...

c 2013/davedelacroix/lord borgo/January/piacenza/italia

Our Man in Europe/dave delacroix/RAGAZZI-MENTO: part!! (2) THE MATADOR!

Our Man in Europe/davedelacroix/RAGAZZI-MENTO: part 2: The Matador!

"I slept thru the bull-fight (in Spain, of course) despite the hullabaloo (RIOJA vino). Jeeze-Louise! I even fell asleep once when we were making LOVE (Ganja!) It was a soft bed in that Montseurrat Hotel outside Barcelona. -You were sooo pissed! (DOH!?)"
"AWAKE? -clear days, remember? You could smell and sometimes SEE the sea...over Barcelona smog and the excessive ink of our credit-card receipts?"
(Lousise stares at me..)..)
"Remember?... Do you remember EL MATADOR; the Matador? -who managed the bar/cantina in Villafranca? He was hard boned. Mid 30's. Lithe, with intense Rudolph Valentino eyes... He circled the room without you knowing he was there/in command/a Maitre-D? .. His movements were a fandango, a tango, a contra-dance..with invisible participants? Yes. EL MATADOR; and just how he operated; bowing to the Clientele:
Bickering sisters; he'd placate with Margaritas. (Ole!)
The Soccer crowd; he'd circle, double claps: "VIVA ESPANA!" (Ole!)
The nerds and "techies": "Perhaps a Cuba-libre, boys?" (Ole!)
Young Lovers: "The Rioja is on the house!" (Ole!)
The rowdy college crowd: "Pitchers! Pitchers of beer for my friends!" (Ole!)
To the sad drunk: "One Calvados, my friend? Then you go home." (Ole!, Ole!)
The obnoxious? -his boot in their backsides; out the door! (Ole! Ole! Ole!)

"...I slept through the bull-fight despite the hullabaloo (Rioja vino). Jeeze-Louise! I even fell asleep once when we were making Love (Ganja). It was a soft bed in that Montseurrat Hotel outside Barcelona: you were sooo pissed!"
(Louise still staring at me)
"Awake? -clear days. Do you remember? You could smell and sometimes SEE the sea over Barcelona's smog...?"

"Acutually, Dave.." LOUISE says, finally: "I DO remember that you OWE me €10,000 for that trip...?"
"And I?" says I: ".. remember The Matador!...:)"
(Conversational pause, then Louise asks:) "Wasn't he the one with the beautiful Chinese girlfriend?"
"OLE!!!"

c 2012/davedelacroix/january/piacenza/Italia...:)

Our Man in Europe/dave delacroix/RAGGAZZI-MENTO! -part !

Our Man in Europe/davedelacroix/RAGGAZZI-MENTO: part 1:


RAN, during my weekly Soiree, into COUNT BOBBIO. Charming fella. Blonde/Italian/35-ish; decorant, Milano-fashion-ista! -shoes that cost 6 months Rent/Pink cigarettes: I reek of beer. HE reeks of Cognac.
(No shortage of witnesses)
His absent wife, the Countessa della "Bobbio" (after the town), who is affectionately, though DISCREETLY known as "the HUMP", having produced four bambinos (all sons & heirs) and named after (the town) Bobbio's hump-back bridge -which traverses the Trebbio river...is (encora...) ABSENT; reading Hemmingway, no doubt, who sojourned in these parts, a century ago; drinking cocoa (the Countessa), happy to be far from the "bustle"; likewise, Hemmingway.

Waylaid at the trattoria (Axel's place) by Fahrenheit 451 bookstore/piazza Duomo, the COUNT (Bobbio) extended his "largess" with the keys to his BENTLEY '59 (old classic limo) whilst he "largessed" with mutual friend/exotic fixture-Senorina FIFI -whose actual name I have yet to establish. She's: lots of make-up, 40-something. Tonight? Torquoise evening dress, Chinese silk shawl, Rossi-pearl ballet slippers; between mosaic discussions on Tolstoy, Gogol or Pushkin, always insists she's having problem's with her "bustle!"? In bed? -she just sighs..as the COUNT will discover, and LOVE is in the air, so I enjoy the Count's vino's & hospitality, making a discreet exit with ducats to spare/the BENTLEY '59 car keys, to say "Hi! & Bye!" to several local cafe/bar RAGAZZI-MENTO, bartenders & Cognoscenti!...

"DOH!?" On the way home (in the BENTLEY '59)? -the "vecchio" streets of Piacenza are sooooo narrow... Fender-bender? CASA-bender? I resorted to walking home... I THINK I switched off the Bentley's ignition/note on the dashboard/that sort of thing... (?)


2013/davedelacroix/ourmanineurope/RAGGAZZIMENTO No.1/Dont drink & drive a Classic Bentley!... Incidentally? This is NOT a CONFESSION. All Similarity to people/places: quite incidental. Towing charges? I'm NOT on the phone!!!...:)

Our Man in Europe/dave delacroix/the FURTHER ADVENTURE of Johnny Love Muscle!/part 15: "DR. STRANGELOVE"

Our Man in Europe/davedelacroix/the FUTHER adventures of Johnny Love Muscle/part 15: "DR STRANGELOVE"


(Whitehouse/Oval office, Washington D.C.:)

"Excuse me, Mr President?"
"Yes, boy?"
"Sir, we have a problem..."
"Jewish or Palestinian?"
"In THIS case, neither..."
"Afro-American?"
"No, sir."
"Goddamit! WHITE!?"
"Not exactly.... It's our pre-programmed MEGA-MAN who our scientists invented to take care of ALL un-forseen problems, NUCLEAR WAR, dysentry in the Congress, Communist up-risings, AL-KHAIDA, and Happy-hour hangovers!...?"
"Well?"
"Well, Sir. Apparently, a tad like Dr Strangelove; he's gone rogue!"
"You mean to say that our MEANEST lethal weapon -yet to be invented by MAN,  as turned into Peter Sellars!?"
"No Sir. More like Stanley Kubrik.!
"I knew it!  JEWISH!"
"Not exactly, Mr President..."
"What!?..."
"...He's in TIMES SQUARE in NYC preaching LOVE & PEACE..."
"Jew boy, with a beard?"
"Maybe KATO - with a beard -; we're not sure."
He's CHINESE!!?"
"We're not sure."
"OH MY GOD!.... Look! There's a Crucifix in this OVAL Office somplace. Your Mission?... FIND IT. Make a humungous replica, then hang - MEGA-MAN - the Sonofabitch to it, and DO it in Times Square, TELEVISE it and let the good folks in KANSAS know we just took a bite out of Crime! That clear!?"
"...On the 6-0-clock News, Mr President?"
"...And the rest!."


c 2013/davedelacroix/rainy january/though NO worse than war...or a visit to the dentist.

Our Man in Europe/dave delacroix/ the FURTHER adventures of Johnny Love Musc/part 14: SALZBURG!

Our Man in Europe/davedelacroix/the FURTHER adventures of Johnny Love Muscle: part 14: SALZBURG...

I don't want your wine... I DON'T want your "smoke"... I don't want your HOUSE...and I don't want your joke..:).
Babe? Have you ever been to Salzburg? -No? Then, stay there, or where you are. SKI the light fandango.

Babe? Have you ever been to Stockholm? In Winter? -skating on thin ice is a local challenge.
My advice? Wear muffs around your Soul. Anything else? -send postcards.


c 2013/dave dee/piacenza/italia/she sez: "I could'a bin a contender, charlie; I could'a bin, someone?..."

Our Man in Europe/Prince of Peace/the FURTHER adventures of JOHNNY LOVE MUSCLE/pat 11: Rene Magritte

Our Man in Europe/davedelacroix/the FUTHER " lunches" of Johnny Love Muscle/part 11:  "Rene Magritte".

Ya gotch'a me! Weather/climati-bad; black umbrellas sailing, en masse, down from the January sky? Nobody got a Poem. EVERYBODY got NO smile. Like Germans who won World War THREE, finally thinking of the death-toll; got them there, for WHAT? somekind of frickin Victory?.....UBER ALLES?...what WERE these CRETINS thinking?
Meantime? Rene Magritte; umbrellas floating from the sky... A Pernod avec acqua; love, PEACE, a NO superior "pastiche" with which to wash the mouth, salvient, yet dry....?

c 2013/davedelacroix/jan-2013/piacenza/italia: less we forget the slaughter of yesteryear...?

Our Man in Europe/dave delacroix//the FUTHER adventures of Johnny Love Muscle: part 10: "Gone with the Wind..."

Our man in JADE/dave delacroix/the further adventures of JOHNNNY LOVE MUSCLE/part 10: "Gone with the Wind..."


...Has anybody seen
my good friend St. Paolo?
Seems soooo long ago
we broke the bread?

As anybody seen
my good friend Francesca;
she flies like the swallows
that circle the sky?

As anybody here,
seen my old friend Stephano;
last seen, lost in a bottle
of broken dreams?

As anybody here,
seen the WORLD that was Promised;
lilting in progress
but gone with the wind?

Gone with the wind?
Gone with the wind?
"Ciao Ragazzi!"
(...goodbye old friends)
Gone with the wind?

Gone with the wind?
Gone with the wind?
Ciao Ragazzi! -gone
...with the wind.....?


c 2013/davedelaxeoix/lord borgo/piacenza/italia/headin' back to the ranch for a cold one!...:)

Our Man in Europe/dave delacroix/the FURTHER adventures of the DUDE" -part 9: ALL TOMORROW's Party's......

DELACROX abides.... Part: 9: "ALL TOMORROW'S PARTY'S..."



Did I ever tell you about "Commie" rats? Or the No.4. bus ? -goes by my Palazzo like clockwork? -that acid-reflex in your throat/GURGLE-BAD;
That Cocaine dealer-gal who (you met, Boys!) WHAKKED Life, like a Siren.. and made grown men SWINE?

Did I ever tell you 'bout the Apostle; some "hippy" dude, playing accoustic on the Mount?
He sang songs of Bread, songs of Fishes: yet still to this day, man's mind can't crave enough...?

Did I tell you about that Gal I met, yesterday?...In the Art shop? -Wearing a gold bandana?....


c 2013/davedelacroix/all tomorrow's party's---

Our Man in Europe/the FURTHER adventues of JOHNNY LOVE MUSCLE: part 8: "Generic Art".

Our Dude in Europe/the FURTHER ADVENTURES of JOHNNY LOVE MUSCLE (Dude-dude...) Part 8: "Generic ART".


"Tell them "Willy Boy" was here!"

"...The night is long" (that never finds the Dave)...

Reflections in a golden eye.

Flight of the Valkyries!

"Put NOT your faith in Princes..."

Once upon a time Hansel and Gretal went skipping down the lane. Then, my "dick" fell off.
Climate? It's overcast. Grey. And refuses to shine.


c 2013/davede lacroix/lord borgo/exactly 200 years after Napoleon blew it at WATERLOO!/piacenza/italia... It's January.

OUR MAN in EUROPE/dave delacroix/the further adventures of JOHNNY LOVE MUSCLE/part 007: "AGGY-VILLE!"

Our dude in Europe/Rockstar-Dave/here comes Johnny Love Muscle: part 007: "AGGY-VILLE!"


Come & get your Money-Maker!
State; Colorado-Kansas line. The COPS swarm like bees, bees, bees.
-Buzz, buzz, buzz.
There's a "thunder-head overhead; don't bother THEM none!

Come, GET, your "Money-maker", sad eyed lady? -downtown K.C, or Manhattan AGGY-VILLE, ball game: K.C. versus KANSAS STATE...dosen't bother me. I'm DEAF.

Come get your money maker, Manhatten! Nice dress! Nice press! In L.A. we'll make it someday; till then till YOU; explain your weeping? -we pay.

Come, get your Money-Maker. State-line, Federal Crimes! And your heart, continental, above..and beyond.

...Relax, girl; we are surrounded by envy.


2013/davedelacroix/immortal-apparently -bought it in a box store/piacenza, Italia.

Our Man in Europe/davedelacroix/the FURTHER Adventures of Johnny Love Muscle: part 6: "APOPLECTIC NOW!"

Our Man in Europe/dave the rave/here comes JOHNNY LOVE MUSCLE/part 6: "APOPLECTIC NOW!"

(Rilke/Morrison) "Who, in the order of angels, can hear me now?..."/"This is the End, my only friend, the End."

(Caribineri/police report:)
... "The Gal ran half naked up the Via Campagnia, collapsed in the Piazza Cavalli, apparently had an ORGASM - or went into some sexual fever - then frothed at the mouth... We suspect Cocaine."

The MAYOR/Burgomaster/SINDACO, along with Carabineri Chief of Police, some guy from ITALIAN "Secret Service" (the guy, when speaking, absolutely does NOT gesticulate!)... Anyhow, the MAYOR, who is the SECOND last person in town to hear of this event has ME summonsed; Lord Borgo. Problemo in my jurisdiction...!

"Dave?" he said. "It's quite clear something is amiss..."
"Yes Sir." I said. "Si, Signori" -eyeing the Italian Secret Service guy. (he's a dead-ringer for Harrison Ford or Samuel S Jackson in a kilt!?)
The MAYOR continues: "This Gal, obviously, is a "miss-fit", intent on /AND ruining the Piacenza TOURIST TRADE upon which this city relies and WITHOUT any concern for the timid populace who, even as we speak, are in such a state of "dismay"; they cannot choose between prosciutto or salami!?... She is CLEARLY operating outside of the LAW under NO authorized supervision and OUT OF CONTROL!"
(Everyone takes off their Ear-muffs and there's an intense silence in the Mayor's office)

I clear my tonsils: "Clearly, Sir. Out of control"; says I: "Undoubtedly!"

"WE," the Mayor explains, "order you to go "Up-River", find out what you can, LOCATE "said Miscreant" and "Terminate" her "situ"!"
"Terminate, Sir?" I ask, re-arranging my ear-muffs.
"Yes. Terminate." affirms the Mayor. "Terminate with COMPLETE INDIFFERENCE..."
"COMPLETE indifference?" says I, just to be sure....?
Ear-muff-snug.
"Categorically...", whispers the Mayor....!

(Rilke/Morrison) "Who, if I cried out, in the Order of the Angels/fricks with wings/would hear me now?/"this is the End, my one and only friend, the End; I'll never look into your eyes, again...?"

...As LORD BORGO; essentially, the Prince of my "locale", it was clear - certainly from the Mayor's point of view - that I had a DUTY to perform/I was obligated...

The GAL - in question - once again ran up the Via Campagnia, THIS time, completely "starkus", did a little dance, then collapsed, had a TRIPLE ORGASM , then proceeded to froth at the mouth - shocking ALL standby-bystanders and, later, everyone on the  Inter-net!
As LORD BORGO? -I had to respond.

€2.00 -potatoes.
€1.50 -Spanish beans.
€3.50 -Frozen Alaskan Cod.
€1.72 -San Mattino Vino Bianco
€5.12 -12 pack, WUHRER beer.
€5.40 -Pueblo tobacco.

.......... I picked up this crazy GAL in my arms and carried her away from the madding crowd. My destiny, pre-ordained, was clear?...
WE now live in an AIRSTREAM trailer in the great State of Missouri, near Kansas, and are thinking  of not ONLY raising/breeding GOATS, but teaching them the eloquence of the English language....after, of course, they have accomplished Italian.


2013/davedelacroix/lord borgo/piacenza/italia...:)

Our Man in Europe/dave delacroix/the FURTHER adventures of Johnny Love Muscle/Last shot-New year!

Our Man in Europe/davedelacroix/the FURTHER adventures of Johnny Love Muscle: part 5: Last-shot/New year!


...Played Salvatore's WORLD CAFE last nite. Small, elegant, bar-cafe on the via Calzolai, Piacenaza, just off the Piazza Cavalli
Crystal glasses, decadent bar, spot lighting, humungous chandelier, "see-thru" tables/chairs -poly-fibre something; squeaky clean!

I opened my piccolini concertini with one of my love songs, called: "Utility Bill".
There was some HAMMERING from the appartments above?

I followed up with ANOTHER love song, entitled: "Dental plan".

The HAMMERING from above got SO intense - obviously not music lovers - that the humungous chandelier dislocated from the ceileing and hung/swung about like the Marquise de Sade's lame "dick"?

Needless to say, the gig was a bust.


c 2013/davedelacroix/lord borgo!piacenza/italia....this side of Paradise...:)

Our Man in Europe/dave deee Luxe/the FURTHER adventures of Johnny Love Muscle/part 4: "LAW & BOREDOM"

Our Man in Europe/dave delacroix/the FURTHER adventures of Johnny Love Muscle/part 4:  "LAW & BOREDOM".

(DOINK-DOINK!)

January 1st., 2013, midnight, I ran out of writing paper, the Utility company turned off the Electric.
Fortunately, I had 2 candles - courtesy of the Basilica St. Sepulcro - a forgotten roll of wallpaper (floral) upon which I write.

My upstairs/appartmento neighbor, Guiessipina was playing JAMES BOND movie soundtracks REAL LOUD; I had a pack of smokes and a FULL bottle of Romanian vino/frizz ante!
Things (life) outside of NOT getting laid, could'a been worse. It was new year's day.

Guiessipina, incidentally, killed her "dick" boyfriend. I didn't hear it happen, of course. FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE at full blast tends to block out everything... COPS showed up. CRIME SCENE. Law & Boredom. Flashing lights. Victim's neck slashed. Eyes poked out. Blood all over the place. An Xmas body on the floor in "festive"decaying pyjamas.
I was, as G's neighbor, dragged in as a witness (?). G, looking aghast and confused: "Must have been an intruder!?" she said.
I concurred. I liked G. Her boyfriend was a prick.
Cops didn't care. C.S.I. showed up - fashionably late - with Nikon cameras and great hair-do's/video detectives, etc.. Later? Me G. (the immediate suspect), the Cops, the C.S.I- team (with great hair-do's)? -we all went to the local cafe/bar, sat down, got beers.
The Cops asked G. if she in fact had killed her boyfriend? She said: "Sure. He was a sonofabitch/had a Momma-complex/beat the shit outta me/last 2 years!"
We ALL understood.
Me, G. The Cops, the C.S.I. team (great hair-do's), after several beers resolved the following: "Victim murdered by person or persons unknown/No fingerprints on Machete/Case CLOSED."
Happy New Year: LAW & BOREDOM.

(DOINK-DOINK!)

c 2013/davedelacroix/piacenza/italia.....New year's day (bono singing) everything is closed/go rob a cigarette machine; on new year's day: "I will be will you again...in Dublin....:)

Our Man in Europe/dave delacroix/The FURTHER adventures of Johnny Love Muscle:: part 3:; "BEING THERE."

Our Man in Europe/dave delacroix/the FURTHER adventures of Johnny Love Muscle: part 3: "BEING THERE."

(dedicato: Carol Marie Aniello)

I live on the "piano Terra" (ground floor) across the street (via Campagnia) from the Basilica St. Sepulcro; a complex configuration of architecture.
...Romanesque roofs. Couple  of domes. John Cleese/.tall facade, back-end-Gothic, neo-Gothic, structures. Heavy on the brick-work. Renaissance, neo-neo Pre-historic (?) - whatever? - : like watching some "Wunder-kind" (talented brat) manipulating (with gusto!) some Stradivarius violin and wondering, "HOWDEE DO DAT!?"
It's really frickin' BIG.

In direct view of my "appartmento" window, a FAN of Ivy ascends the Basilica's wall and - ho-hum! - gives the Basilica an added lustre as - ho-hum! - do stars to the night?

In Spring? It's skeletal. An aluminum sculpture. In Summer? It's lush green and full of possibilities...like Christmas in July. Come fall? EMERALD. The eye, the color, of envy; full knowing, whilst IT will die, you and I might live on: WILL live on.
Before Winter's death-blow? The Ivy has ONE rash change. The Ivy turns Sapphire. A translucent RED that burns into your immortal soul.

c 2012/davedelacroix/sex symbol/met the BARBIE TWINS ONCE/piacenza/italy...