Mincio Poems | Examples

Invisible Walls

"Sitteth Peschiera, fortress fair and strong, 
To front the Brescians and the Bergamasks, 
Where round about the bank descendeth lowest. 

There of necessity must fall whatever 
In bosom of Benaco cannot stay,  
And grows a river down through verdant pastures. 

Soon as the water doth begin to run, 
No more Benaco is it called, but Mincio, 
Far as Governo, where it falls in Po."

-From: Dante's "Inferno"
(the Italian is written in Terza Rima)

***

My Castle, strong, its walls so high and thick
Small windows with high sills
No one comes in, no one leaves, when I am sick
and tired of escaping his thrills

Far away the green meets the blue, a river
as a small ribbon meets the sky
I push everything else away, only a sliver
remains. Only beauty meets my eye

I fight my lonely fight beyond invisible walls
Over my head they wet their swords
From each sundown till the end of nightfall
I can only beat them with my words

     Words, sharp and strong as ice
     Words, mild, loving and wise...

***

April 12, 2017 
Copyright © Darren White