Change of Environment

I’ll meet her
by the old city door
I think to myself
as I leave the bank

Climbing the cobbled hill
I notice how the ancient
stone houses
hold a cool air in their
walls
I want to stop and hug one
to relieve afternoon heat

As I slowly walk
the final stretch of slope
leading to the white 17th century archway
I pick a spot on the wall
to sit and wait

Bergamo basks below
a new horizon for my home
twinkling car windows
sparkle in groups,
zebra crossings lay down their stripes
for feet
and clay red roof tiles
stretch out
above sleepy eyed window shutters
half drawn
doorways ajar
like
half a yawn

I sit there a while contemplating
the change of environment
a family stroll past
a thin man pushing
an empty pram
we just about smile
at each other
he has his fat wife
and his son
‘good for him’ I think
and I mean it

Four o’clock comes and goes
with the ringing of bells
I begin
to wonder where she is
I phone
she says she’s in the old square
and wants to know where I am
I tell her I’m at home
because
I like to play games

I sit and watch the archway
through it
I can see a slanting wall
where any minute now
I will see a flash of white
her neat shoulder bobbing along
yes
I’ll see my little flash of white
and her surprised smile
soon enough