Could say Rome fell again. Got a load
of the act we were pulling, and splat.
Maybe if we'd stayed in Florence, I kept
telling myself. Things are bound to change
if we hang in Sorrento two or three days.
The warm breezes, the turquoise bay.
Near-illegally delicate lace shopkeepers
push. Sweet, yet slightly sour and tartly
sexy pull on the senses of curb-hugging
trees that recover from pregnancy by
blatantly showing off the round, fat
oranges they bore. The flavor! The color!
Pasta and gelato in the glow of quietly
lighted candles. Couples making out
over vino. Can't imagine what sapped
our love to a stale imitation. Moments
when I thought that breathtaking hairpin
snakes between a rock wall and a plunge
from cliff to sea might recover for us
a portion of the fizz that bubbled, then
popped and disappeared in thin air, but
no. Probably smart of you to insist on
touring en masse. Save on lodging, save
on meals, save on tickets, yataya......
Sub-text: let's keep intimate at crowd's
length. Buses', trains', ruins', whatever.
Forced to buy loud, narrow umbrellas
gypsies were gouging five bucks each
for on a narrow via mid-trek to blank
stares at the blood-stained pits of the
Colosseum. I was letting rain take
take care of my tears. On the way back
to the hotel, a cacophony of motor
scooters, buses, and foot traffic mostly
leather-lugging office workers kept us
from having to pretend that we had
something left to talk or not talk about.
What a waste of history and marble.
.
I always like those subjective journeys of the mind,
the way places carry descriptions of our emotional geography.
And I love you description of pregnant trees and oranges...
I spent thirteen years of my life in Naples (and one year in Milan),
so those Italian landscapes and memories speak to me.
Love the words and the way you connect them in this Roman holiday.
Phyllis, I take it you did NOT drop a coin in Trevi Fountain to
assure that you would return to Rome. -gene.
Wow, the dichotomy between Italian warmth, passion and life and the cool, dry desert of a relationship is startling in this write, P.J. Love the visuals, smells and sounds. Brought my memories of "the old people" back so vividly-thank you...
Powerful visuals Pea...but I remember a softer more laid back visit to Italy, but I stayed away from the larger cities and spent my time in the Provence area. excellent writing...
Bravo, Pea! Thank you, for your splendid unromanticized point of view and accounting of your trip to Italy! It's powerfully and wonderfully descriptive!
Phyllis Jean, this is simply wonderful --- a guided tour through Rome and a dying love between two hearts on a mission to rejuvenate the illusive spark of passion deceased -- I love it -- you are to be my tour guide if either journey I find myself about to embark upon --peace and love -- Jon Michael
I don't quite remember Rome being that ugly, though in point of fact I have never been there, so what I remember is from video & written memory of others that have...so why am I here commenting you ask, possibly because I most heartily enjoyed this posting...Ed
Phyllis,
I understand well the frustration expressed in that last line, but before that a beautifully worded journey through the wonders and fascinations of Italy so rich in image, colour, history and art.
This is marvellous, thank you.
John
“Being a couple yet free is our next challenge on the evolutionary ladder. This book successfully helps us unravel the myths that block that achievement. It does it with warmth, with readability, and with balance. It recreates everyday problems and
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the way places carry descriptions of our emotional geography.
And I love you description of pregnant trees and oranges...
I spent thirteen years of my life in Naples (and one year in Milan),
so those Italian landscapes and memories speak to me.
Axilea
This write takes me to a place I've never been before. Excellent sights and sounds! Hugs,
Sheila
Fee
Phyllis, I take it you did NOT drop a coin in Trevi Fountain to
assure that you would return to Rome. -gene.
Love Tinka
Carole~
You take me there ... beautifully penned poignancy. Well done.
(((HUGS))) and love, Karla.
I understand well the frustration expressed in that last line, but before that a beautifully worded journey through the wonders and fascinations of Italy so rich in image, colour, history and art.
This is marvellous, thank you.
John