five towers by James Morehead
July 5, 2011
five towers
by James Morehead
a dizzying twirl to stefansdom's peak steps block on block hug a solitary column far below nestled in the catacombs keep eleven thousand souls sleep in silence in crypts burrowed deep from dirt and rubble bones and skulls in even rows stacked shadows of saints sinners plague victims unknown south from stefandom's patterned tiles past venezian canals and its leaning gondoliers over ridges hillsides vineyards mediterranean shores leans pisa's torre pendente stone steps circle a slanted hollow core worn uneven by i turisti swaying to and fro and far below lovers support the tower in framed relief free from pisa's peak over chianti vigne and san gimignano gates fly sienese flags - seventeen contrade unfurled for il palio's race in centuries unchanged these medieval dreams under piazza del campo's slender tower where narrow crouching darkness leads to clear bells' call and duomo's colored stone silhouetted prayer chianti grapes and tuscan hills lead to apuane ridges majestic horizon stadtturm - innsbruck's city tower - encased in dolomite ice and stone stark severe graceful majestic ancient peaks look down and gaze at stadtturm's steps of modern steel and ancient oak a plaform open air where bells now silent once tolled and pastel apartments lined up side by side in cool dusk's breeze call their children home salzach's waters swelled by winter's melting drifts hohensalzburg's keep overlooks cobblestone streets give way to funicular rails rising to a solitary peak where gazing out brings shivers in the hot june sun turrets of white stone topaz domes and slender points of gild from towers steps to open air eyes closed a trumpet sounds a single note propelled high above the five towers and lost in echos
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