Tomorrow, my study abroad program will conclude and my family will touch down in Florence. The speed at which these six weeks have gone by is unfathomable. I’ve learned and seen so much, and I have so much more I could share. I will probably do so at some point, but in way of establishing a feeling of closure, I’d like to simply make a statement about the value of wandering. Some of my best days and discoveries in Italy have resulted from my just taking a casual stroll, allowing curiosity and wanderlust guide me rather than set intention. In wishing to relate the unique ecstasy of these experiences, I found a poem resulted instead of my typical essay. It is as follows. I hope it gives some insight into my great love for this place and perhaps inspires you to take a wander yourself sometime.
Passeggiata nella città dei gigli
(Translation: Walk in the City of Lilies)
Ritual performed in transient space
Diana and Apollo exchange pleasantries
Their reluctant farewell melds with twittering birdsong and
The creeks of my bed frame releasing me
Descent through darkness
Flight through light
The quiet is so loud
The roadsides catch and throw grey
A rumble or two roll through routes
Bakers’ brooms peek and retreat, peek and retreat,
A mountain rises decked in cream, rust, and sage
It extends an anticipated invitation
As always, it’s accepted
A presence familiar now
Yet always new
A sigh finally propels me onward
Wanderlust seizes its opportunity
Capturing a hand, he leads me
Past shop windows spilling stylistically
By façades of concaves and color guarded by saints
Through narrow lanes that burst into piazzas
Into winding halls lined with legendary treasures
Around rooms wherein nobility passed their days
Out doors built for giants
Across one in a line of graceful arcs
Between the winding hedges of expansive gardens
Under their canopies granting shade for the cats
Near grottos of dripping stone
Up a hill
Behold
Terra cotta sends the eye sweeping
Greedily grabbing at the horde of hues
Present in billowing roof top gardens
Clothes swinging from lines
A shining red streak whizzes past the base of a tower
Gaze is pulled upwards
Distant peaks, soft with needle, call from a misty horizon
Towns furrow in their coats
Mountain of the city draws me back
A wink from its golden tip
An invitation
Again, I accept
Soon, though, a tug at my hand
Life has recommenced
Weave, dodge, spin, duck
The sea refuses to part
Teeming throngs put blind faith in scarves on sticks
Munch on that which would be better as eye candy
Snap pictures of each cobblestone and pigeon
Tucked unassumingly down a side street is my escape
Frothed cap perches atop glorious warmth
A touch of sweetness unlocks bliss
Senses rejuvenated
Reemergence
Freshly rolled cones tease with olfactory prowess
Sweet almond cookies and crumbling pastries beckon
Tantalizing meats, cheeses, oils, breads
All vie for my attentions
My mind is on the mother load
A maze reveals itself
Sight and sound assault, smell and taste delight
Desire stirs in the gut
Known and mysterious share shelves
Familiar faces smile in recognition
Coins fly between outstretched hands
Bags grow heavy, stomachs growl
Newly laden, I reverse my descent
Siesta has fallen, but the city calls me
Reenter the world of clasped hands, explosive guffaws,
Kisses hello and goodbye
Of fistfuls of “ciao bella” thrown from all directions
Of leash-less dogs trotting before highly composed owners
Of clever graffiti just waiting to be noticed
Of elderly couples shuffling along but conversing at break neck speeds
Then as twilight descends, of young couples whispering in the ever lingering light
All walks of life are out walking, but this is their time
Musicians emerge on street corners
Each street plays a unique set
Reverberation of accordions, the sweet whine of violins, amid a different song
The clink of silverware on well cleaned plates
Quiet chatter of amici beneath a street lamp
Exclamations from stirred soccer fans
I breathe deeply, absorb through my very pores
Diana has long taken her seat
Bidding the mountain goodnight
I reverse my descent until tomorrow