oh dear it’s not 
Saint Peter’s basilica
the Santa Maria del Fiore 
of flowers in Florence 
the Venice San Marco 
Assisi Saint Francis
or even the Parma 
tailing at tenth
of famous duomos in Italy

the Cortona Cathedral 
on republic day is alive
with real worship
as three pews of
neighbourhood youngsters
earnest with their parents
consecrate themselves in
the ceremony of first communion

and one not yet of age
kneels in anticipation 
of tomorrow’s grace

Is it your ancient Etruscan walls, melon tombs 
monumental funerary altar
tabula cortonensis
strategic control of territorial swathe

I too have my Etruscan necropolis, Roman baths
central position
anchoring Creta senesi, River Osborne 
and torrent Copra

weren’t we both then
largely abandoned by history
suborned by wealth subdued by battle
slumbered through a count of centuries


what sly whimsy decreed that you be
favoured destination for spending sprees
while a-straddle the autostrada
i am the one to fade away 

Under the Tuscan Sun