Walking back to the Vicolo dei Panieri

Walking back to the Vicolo dei Panieri, rain fell on umbrellas and black cobbles - 

We threaded our way past the Bar Ayahuasca in the Vicolo del Cinque -

Voices and light spilled out of crowded osterias - 

Dizzying bottles gleamed in wine shops - 

We read strange graffiti on ancient walls - 

Trastevere, Rome

Apeil 2024

In the Piazza Trilusa

In the Piazza Trilusa we'd seen acrobats - 

Lithe young Africans, leaping upon each other's shoulders -

One of their company drumming - 

Flames pouring from a fire eater's mouth - 

We'd sat upon the steps of the fountain - 

The three of us, amongst the joyous youth - 

Trastevere, Rome

April 2025

On the Ponte Sisto

At three in the morning, I remembered Rome -

I'd walked with my darlings on the Ponte Sisto -

Crossing the river at night on a ribbon of stone - 

There were musicians - 

We heard their languid smoky jazz - 

Dark water flowed beneath us to Castel Sant'Angelo - 

Lamplight glimmered on the current - 

I wore my coat of years, woven from memory - 

Trastevere, Rome

April 2025

A bright eyed raguzzo

Wallace clasped the football he'd bought in the Piazza Trilussa -

Danced over the cobbles - 

A bright eyed raguzzo -

We'd heard salsa on the Ponte Sisto -

Soft rain fell - 

Trastevere

Rome

April 2025

Sophie wore her shining hair

I felt as though I were still above the clouds -

Wallace had seen another jet, lost in the blueness of the sky -

Now he ate a noble gelato -

Sophie wore her shining hair -

Travestere 

Rome

April 2025

One hundred and eighty

Wallace throws his darts - 

His eye is true -

He smiles - 

Turns to look at me - 

Mimics a fleshy champion of the oche - 

One hundred and eighty ! -

Number 53 Royal Avenue

Scarborough 

February 2025

A different sky

Anne and Sophie sipped coffee in Thackwray and Greensmith - 

Shared secrets -

I was back in the North - 

Under a different sky -

Scarborough 

February 2025