Sigh

SIGH

"His counter tops are low grade," she said.

"I have marble," she said.

I stayed as quiet as stone, and only sighed.

I have stood under Trajan's Arch in Rome,

climbed the promenade to the Capitolini Museum

Seen Medusa's severed head frozen in marble,

Preserved in her venomous hatred.

Walked on the floors of Pompey,

marveled and sighed

Marveled and signed.

Stood on the mosaics of someone's home, vanquished by nature and time

Wept an invisible tear for those who writhed in pain, cast and frozen forever,

And sighed with long exhalation.

Viewed Dante's tomb,

Admired the view from the Stadium at Dephi in the brilliant sun.

Prayed to the gods at Olympus

Closed my eyes, and exhaled for reaching this.

Walked the cobbled stones of Venice,

Heard the string quartets in Piazza San Marco at sunset in July.

Listened to the gondolier's song as we floated at dawn under the Rialto.

Prayed at St. Peter's, St. Paul's, San Marco, in Greece on Patmos and envisioned the Vision.

Inhaled clean air on Mt. Pilatus, at the St. Goddard Pass.

Can somewhere on Earth really be so clean?

Stood on mountain tops and reminded myself how small I am.

Prayed at Dacau, snarled at Hilter,

and cried visible, agonizing tears in the crematorium...

the sighs of The Holocaust 's innocents haunting the halls.

Shared coffee and consolation with the young girl who didn't understand who could hate her so much.

I have watched violets spring on the graves of Keats, Severn, and Shelley

in the Protestant Cemetery near Rome.

Hugged and shared empathy with my British tour guide, talking of Ozymandias.

I have known rivers, too, and the cold touch of marble.

I have listened to the voices and lessons of history.

"I have marble counter tops," she said.

Robert Robinson

1.22.17

8:25 am

First draft of a free verse journal reflection.