Stroud writing as if he was Giotto Di Bondone - ca.1266-1337

This morning on the Via del Cocomero, I was admiring a basket of 
oranges, when a pig broke loose from a passing drove, knocked over
the basket, tried to dash between my legs, and knocked me over.

           Maestro, are you all right? the vendor asked.
           Yes, yes, I laughed.
           He was surprised by my humor.
           Pigs are very smart, I explained. All these years I’ve been
                making thousands of lire with their bristles. I’ve repaid
                them nothing, not even a bowl of swill. So, how can I
                begrudge a little revenge?

And besides, how could I tell him, it was good to be down on the
ground a moment. It’s true I have painted basilicas in Rome. That
some call me a Master. But Brother Francis will love this story. To
be brought to earth by a pig. To be down among all the other mira-
cles, the oranges scattered about me like small suns, to be astonished
once again.