One of a small series of poems written and inspired by Friuli (Italy).




into the deep

 

then
almost in time
the churches
sang
to the angelus bells
as
they had

in 1917

on the hill
an old general
stares
blankly
at Carnia
and the endless
Karst

the emperor
is
long since gone
lizards scatter
on flat
hot stones
lovers kiss
in shadows dark

alone I walk
thought filled
poured
into the
deep
the cathedral
rings
her angelus
for she
is still
asleep





Poetry by Peter Humphreys
Read 735 times
Written on 2013-06-03 at 17:40

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Rob Graber
Oops! Makes that "Shelley's Ozymandias," of course!
2013-06-05


Rob Graber
A great read; for me, the scattering little lizards are particularly vivid. Their contrast with the long-gone emperor reminds me of Byron's Ozymandias. Bravo!
2013-06-04



This is wonderful in form and content.

This brought to mind a poem by D.H. Lawrence, "Snake," also influenced by Italy, something about the sun warmed rocks, the lizard, the atmosphere. Two very different poems, but they share a great deal.
2013-06-03


countryfog
This is simply (in its best sense) perfect Peter, so evocative I can more than imagine the angeles bells. I've visited so many countries but never Italy, to my great regret, and there must be something about it that inspires so much poetry, not just Keats of course but James Wright and Richard Hugo to name just two of my favorites. I envy you the opportunity, but more what you have made of it.
2013-06-03