Perugia

If you lived there, you'd walk by
every day, going to school or
the grocery store, shopping
for something everyone buys, but
Perugia enchants the visitor.
Winter nights come early, crisp
as proper diction, each breeze
a loving, harsh embrace.
The walls pre-date every problem,
concern, and decision you've
made.  They are stronger
than any promise, they have
seen everything and remained,
impartial. The students laugh
and drink and fall against them,
leaning over the edge, trusting
those ancient stones to hold.
I sat at the edge of town
and watched sunsets, stunned
and delirious, opening my arms,
my eyes, my mouth as wide
as they would go, trying to take
whatever I could of this place
inside of me. The locals scuttled
along, immune to Italy as I
never want to be.