upon ancient tiles

I wrote this poem during a stay in Umbria. It was buried in my notes and I forgot it; then rediscovered it many months later. upon the ancient tiles appears in the most recent issue of Poetry Quarterly, Summer, 2014. Click to visit the bookstore.

 

Upon ancient tiles

Walk with me along the rooftops
upon ancient tiles crumbling beneath us
as fragile as we are
We return to this place each year to witness
the gradual decay
and to carry home the antique mess
now turned to dust in our pockets
an unintended souvenir of the life we share