Rome Poem by STANLEY PACION

Youth’s fresh face notably declines.

We have embarked upon a long journey;
Our train runs slow,
And the pain in your back has troubled you for months.

The stations where we might be ejected,
They are numerous and poorly lit.
Lodging will not be easy to find;
The chances of good fortune are slim.

Barbarity has brought us to ruin.
We flee for our lives; sleep and happiness elude us.

Let's face it,
We are not in Rome.
I shall no more see Rome this Easter than you.
You and I are farther away from Rome
Than at any time since we have met.