church

where is your church?

mine is a medieval hilltowns

of Pienza and Montepulciano

along the quiet dusky

cobbled paths on the limestone ridge

tasting its namesake wines

marveling

in amazement

looking up to the risky parapets

the muted bell towers at times

still heralding the misery

and the joy from here

to Montalcino

my church catches the sunset

and the shadows

through the stone gate

at Monteriggioni

and cools the Tuscan piazza

below the city walls

it is a museum

where paintings of Caravaggio and

Michelangelo hang frozen in Florentine time

forever at home with the Medicis

so near Savonarola’s bonfire of the arts

and then of his flesh

mine is where our souls meet

recognizing

understanding

and knowing

wherever

I can feel

see or hear

true genius

or the unlikely reconciliation of adversaries

where  making one of opposites

light and dark

hate and love

death and life

brings tears to my eyes

Barry DeCarli

July 10, 2015 & September 2, 2016

On Hammond Pond

Draft #5

©Barry DeCarli