~ by Avellina Balestri
Empire of the heart
You shake me to the core
Fire-fused mountains
And crumbling foundations
Hot as your passion
For living untamed
You bleed through me
When my soul sings through
The hot-baked clay
Of flesh and bone
You make me move
To the dance of dying
As if this day were my last
And your roads lead to eternity
Martyr lilies flower fair
And the scent of basil
Is fresh and pungent
As the prayers to the Virgin
Swirling up in smoking trails
Your taste is on my tongue
In eating or praying
You burn my throat
Like the candles of blessing
At table or altar lit
Raise me a glass of your wine
Alla tua salute!
You are molten flame and ash
Sea storm and eye of faith
Life’s heart and death’s door
Though never I saw your face,
You write my story
My face bears your map
My spirit swells with your song
And I tread the Appian Way
Image Credit: The Apennine Colossus by Giambologna
