Back to Pisa

We couldn't take photos.
That was, perhaps, the most frustrating thing.
Or--maybe--it was the reason why that evening
Left a burn mark on my brain.


We had no choice but surrender.
The scenery overwhelmed us
Because we couldn't physically Capture it.
We watched a time lapse of the seasons passing.
Those vineyards,
        Those mountains,
               The sunset,
                      Even our sputtering shadows growing elegant,
                             Longer and longer...
White whales.

We had to grasp our handlebars to keep from running off the road
Into the livelihoods ever so slightly below.
We were no longer stressed that the bikes wouldn't make it back.
Every pedal was--sadly--
One step forward to our destination.

The most we could do is call out in elated frustration:

"This is amazing!"
"I can't believe--!"
"I wish--!"
"How beautiful!"
"I wish I could take a picture!"

These words were always followed by cries of ecstasy
And regret as we rode
Single file
Moving in tandem back to Pisa.