here I am
or am I here
sitting on
an Autumn evening
as the deserted city
reluctantly
awakens from its torpor

the Tiber is
shallow deep

old men sit
by the wall
yakking
as their dogs
yap

a lady
far above herself
snoots past

along the towpath
lovers flirt
maniacs
vainly run

a lone rower
rests
upon his oars

on this sultry eve
where the leaves
dare shake
an angelus
drones
in the pregnant air

crickets craic

my face drips

am I here
was I there
at all?

08/31/2014