Pentameters in Cinque Terre

All over Cinque Terre, you will find signage showing “5 Terre”. Cinque, in Italian, means 5. This region boasts five unique towns, connected by a series of steep walking trails originally forged in Roman times. In the past few days we have wandered across many of the towns and trails, along the cliffs decorated densely with farms, vineyards and warm pastel-painted villas. We are staying in Vernazza, the most quaint of the towns.

This Medium blog is dual purpose: 1. The Obvious: sharing updates with family and close friends. 2. The Ruse: practice writing. My career choice generally favors fast communication (email! dispensable memos! post mortem summaries!) — rarely do I take time to pause, reflect, and write for an audience.

I have been surreptitiously looking for a nudge to write a sonnet. Today, inspiration struck when I realized that the number 5 has a playful link between sonnets (iambic pentameter) and Cinque Terre (five hills). I hope you enjoy it.

Katie

TERRE

We climb the mossy steps up to our place,
Encased in alleys lined with pastel walls.
Soft murmurs of Italiano race
Down from windows, echoing through the halls.

Vernazza: quiet, nestled in a cove.
One town of five, the first that we discov’r.
Each town, a chance — again — to fall in love.
Start the hike: four boots, one orange, each other.

Roman roads pave a trekker’s paradise,
Steep steps to climb, each foot must land precise.

Perched high on hills the landscape takes its shape.
Five towns, linked by a set of steep ravines;
Terraces, stacked and laced with vines of grape.
Streaked with gold, an autumn harvest scene.

Climb down — another town — into the streets
Of Manarola, for a port-side bite.
Sardines in lemon make a salty treat.
A glass of wine as day fades into night.

The sun dips down, leaving a burnt orange hue.
A sleepy train home, trekking boots askew.