Girls among the Ruins
Janine Canan
Tonight in Teatro Marcello
two young Romans in long black dress
play flute and piano.
Past massive stones of the ancient apartments
the boulevard traffic courses.
A few capped columns stand at attention
as fluid sonatas permeate
the warm filthy air.
No longer required to serve tyrants,
the stones relievedly crumble
as the girls gaily trill on.
Long brown hair cascades down one slim back,
a dark crop crowns the other,
as four bare arms
move among the moonless ruins.
In glaring spotlights
the audience listens, speechless.
Cars grumble louder and louder, but the flute
does not allow them to drown her out.
Leaning into the notes, she intones
deeper, charging the night
with her radiant will.
