Santa Prassede, Rome

A butterfly’s wing
of sunset light
rests high in the east
corner of the dusky nave. 

Does no one else see?
Camera phones look up
to the beautiful ceiling mosaics
glittering like mica. 

But that high, fey petal
of light has reached
through the clouds of May
to catch your eye.  

Your eyes rest there.
They rest while you linger.
Until it's time to go.
Because it's always time to go. 

You hesitate. And linger.