23 September 2008

A Poem For A Tuesday

Face to Face in Rome

by Constance Brewer



I wander Via Flaminia,

weave my way deep into

the guts of Bella Roma,

turn at random until I leave

this idle March behind.

Citizens vanish, fading two

by one until I am alone

on a narrow-cobble street

receding into ancient alley.

I stretch my hands apart

as if crucified, brush white-

washed stone left and right,

trail my fingers over

the persistence of centuries.

A final turn. The path dead

ends. Grimy brick towers

over head high enough

to enforce my insignificance.

Before me, in the center

of the oft-mortared wall,

three bullet holes.



.

14 comments:

Gabriele Campbell said...

That's beautiful. It really evokes an image of Rome.

Constance Brewer said...

Thanks Gabriele. :)

Bret Norwood said...

Strong imagery, and I like the sort of turn the introduction of the bullet holes image gives at the end.

I recently discovered your blog through the WyoPoets site. I am henceforth a follower.

-Bret N.
awakenwyoming.org

Constance Brewer said...

Bret - thank you! Nice to know someone is reading. And reading WyoPoets too - which is about due for an overhaul...

Anonymous said...

This poem will be features at PWB. Please stop by and support the other poets featured in september's collection

Constance Brewer said...

Awesome. Thank you!

PWB - Poets Who Blog. Drop by and visit. :)

Carla said...

Excellent. I rather like the "idle March" line.

Anonymous said...

This is a poem that transports me to another place. Lovely!

This poem is part of the PWB September Collection. It would be great if you could visit the other blogs in the collection and comment.

C. Elizabeth said...

This was fantastic. Here is my favorite part:

I stretch my hands apart
as if crucified, brush white-
washed stone left and right,
trail my fingers over
the persistence of centuries.

Constance Brewer said...

Carla, thanks. One for the Romanophiles. *g*

Constance Brewer said...

sara - thanks.

I will be when I have enough time this week to do them justice. :)

Constance Brewer said...

c. elizabeth. - Thank you! Don't know if I could live in such close quarters again after being out here in the wide open Western US.

Anonymous said...

I love the whole thing! Just wonderful - evoking imagery of Rome with cliche!

Thank you for sharing it with us!

Beatrice V said...

A vivid and lyrical evocation of time and place. Congratulations for making part of The September Collection at Poets Who Blog