To Die in Florence

The bells of the Cathedral
Singing in the warm fall sun
Sipping cappuccino
Under the watchful gaze
Of Dante.
Tasting the creamy sweetness
Of cool gelato
Strolling the Ponte del Vecchio
While merchants entice
With their wares
Of leather and gold.
Sunlight shimmering on
The river Arno.
David standing proud
In his naked perfection.
Cosimo looks down on
The admiring throngs
In the Piazza Della Signoria.
Sitting on the Loggia di Lanzi
As the tower of the
Palazzo Vecchio
Casts a long shadow
On the tourists below
The scent of fresh flowers
The flavor of rich red wine
On my tongue.
The promise of tomorrow.

Elizabeth Horton-Newton (copyright 2022)

To Die in Florence