Roman Elegies I

Tell me you stones, O speak, you towering palaces! Streets, say a word! Spirit of this place, are you dumb? All things are alive in your sacred walls Eternal Rome, it’s only for me all is still. Who’ll whisper to me, at what window Will I see the sweet thing who’ll kindle me now, and quicken? Already I guess the ways, walking to her and from her, Ever and always I’ll go, while sweet time slips by. I’m gazing at church and palace, ruin and column, Like a serious man making sensible use of a journey, But soon it will happen, and all will be one vast temple, Love’s temple, receiving its new initiate. Though you’re a whole world, Rome, still, without Love, The world isn’t the world, and Rome can’t be Rome.