Above: One of the female lamps found in Calgi
photographs by Nick Prindle

 There are lamps all over Cagli. They're everywhere. In the piazza. On the sides of the buildings. We've all seen them. Used their light at night so we won't break our necks on the cobblestone. That familiar glow is warm and inviting. Everything seems okay as long as they're lit--the alleys seem safe and non-threatening as a result of their presence. Everyone loves the lamps. How can you not?

I've come to the conclusion that there are two types of lamps. Male and female, naturally. The male lamps hang off the buildings--square, stern, commanding.

If you were to ask the male lamps what they saw during World War II, the response, if they could actually talk would be something like, "I was too busy providing light you stupid son of a bitch! What the hell did you think I was doing?" (Need I mention that the male lamps are crabby and would chain-smoke if they could!)

The female lamps are the ones out closer to the action -- independent, curvy, almost cute motherly look-outs. (The male lamps would prefer to be back in the alley--secluding themselves.) Now if you ask the female lamps the same question as of the male lamps, their response would probably be something along the lines of, "Well this one time, blah blah blah...(So if you want to find out any gossip about people, the female lamps would be the ones to ask.)

American lamps--robotic, boring, service without a smile--just plain suck in comparison. So next time you're out at night just remember the lamps--because dammit they're doing their job with personality.

"I'm too busy providing light!"


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