by Nancy Byrne Iannucci
He took me to Rome’s 13th rione.
Wisteria extended its weathered arms
like the candles that dripped onto my birthday cake.
We walked and walked the ancient streets
in light, wine-blurry rain.
Foggy questions mist-ified my mind
as we sat to rest at Piazza Santa Maria.
You should see it at night. Bellissimo.
I spoke my Neapolitan Italian
as best as I could
You realize how much you know
when you must live it.
We were Lazio v Napoli
foot in foot, loving it all,
and each other
without all that
cantankerous competition.
Cioccolata calda in my cup,
warming both of my hands as
I held it close to my lips.
He preferred espresso.
The strong and sweet together
like sweet and savory.
Two irresistible zeppoles
fresh out of a hot cauldron
topped with sugar-powdered hope
that he’d ask me this time,
but he didn’t. Oh, how I wanted him to
more than I wanted
the Colosseum.
Nancy Byrne Iannucci is a librarian and poet who lives with her two cats: Nash and Emily Dickinson. THRUSH Poetry Journal, Allegro Poetry Magazine, Eunoia, Maudlin House, San Pedro River Review, 34 Orchard, Bending Genres, Discretionary Love, and Typehouse are some places you will find her. She is the author of four chapbooks: Temptation of Wood (Nixes Mate Review, 2018), Goblin Fruit (Impspired, 2021), Primitive Prayer (Plan B Press, fall 2022), and Hummingbirds and Cigarettes ( Bottlecap Press, 2024). Visit her at www.nancybyrneiannucci.com Instagram: @nancybyrneiannucci
January House Literary Journal 
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