Florence, Or Something Like It
Reflecting’s become a quiet art
the past a film I play in part,
fog on glass, a softened view
of what was real, and what I knew.
Baz and I, we trade old scenes,
between the lines and all in-betweens.
We speak of dreams, of wounds once raw
and wonder what the mind once saw.
For all my years (or so I claim),
Italy has called and called my name.
Florence, in her golden light
a place I’ve wanted day and night.
But ask me why? The thread runs thin.
No tale of how it did begin.
I search the past, yet nothing sticks
no spark, no moment, no quick fix.
And still, my memories often gleam
what I wore, or what I dreamed.
The way my father’s voice would land,
the grip of shame, the sting, the stand.
I trace the path to who I am,
each mark, each bruise, a telegram.
But Florence? There, the script runs dry
a hunger with no reason why.
I see the Ponte Vecchio’s grace
Having once stepped foot in that magical place.
I love pasta, sure—but more than that,
it’s like I wear the wrong format.
Born in a land that fits too tight,
I reach for things often out of sight.
Perhaps the mystery’s what I crave
a different life I never gave.
Why write it now? Because I stare
at Florence stacked in quiet air,
her book above Pompeii’s red dust
a shrine of longing, love, and rust.
And as I wonder what’s been spun,
what stories we repeat just for fun
I start to think, perhaps they’re true,
the myths we make, me and you.
For what is memory, if not a thread
we stitch into the life we’ve led?
A softened truth, a silent shelf
a tale we tell to know ourselves.
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About this Poem
Florence, Or Something Like It is a meditation on memory, imagined longing, and the blurry intersection between truth and narrative. It wanders through personal reflections, family echoes, and a fascination with a city never quite understood—Florence becomes both a place and a metaphor. The poem explores the myths we quietly build about ourselves: the places we ache for without knowing why, and the stories that stitch our past into something we can hold. It’s about memory as invention, nostalgia as identity, and the longing for a life just beyond reach.
Unravel the quiet complexity of Florence, Or Something Like It in this beautifully written poem analysis. This printable PDF explores themes of memory, longing, self-invention, and the stories we tell ourselves. With thoughtful insights and space for handwritten reflection, it’s perfect for readers who resonate with emotionally layered poetry and introspective exploration.
Format: A4 | Printable | Includes space for notes
