The Goat Herder Srada dell Ufente

The goat herder walks down a long country road outside Rome, leaning on his walking stick. Two Maremma Sheepdogs move quietly at his side. One keeps watch over the goats ahead while the other follows close behind, staying with the herd. A small group of goats grazes along the grassy edge beside a narrow canal, pausing now and then as they move along.

A row of trees stretches into the distance, their shade falling softly across the path. The calm canal mirrors the sky, and open fields reach toward distant hills. The air feels warm and still, and the quiet of the herd moving along the road makes the moment feel steady and familiar. Even though this scene began as a moment I found on Google Maps, I like to imagine it as a day one of my Italian ancestors might have lived. Calling him Giuseppe Milazzo makes it feel a little more like home and a little more like memory.