notes from roma

evening 1

i sit by the pantheon, eating my dinner, and being  part of a crowd of about hundred that circles the old opera singer whose voice fills the ancient square. a rough-cut half moon rises above the temple that has stood there for over a thousand years.

evening 2

i walk by the huge crowd that's milling about the fontana di trevi. there are clouds on the horizon, and a calcuttan humidity talks of the impending rains. i head for dinner. and on my way back, down the via del corsa, it starts pouring. soon i am home, sitting by the palatial window, overlooking the long overdue rain, the smell of fresh wet earth, that's so universal, and a breeze that talks of a city relaxed.

and another evening

i am at the back of a scooter, zipping past the mad traffic on cobblestoned roads, desperately holding on to a small suitcase, and skidding along tram tracks. the sky is clear blue black, and the sharp sickle moon smiles warmly. am so glad to be back.