This City

There was talk of it being like
other cities, Old World flavors shining
in sunlight when my parents came
with their bags for the day.

I see the city each day
gliding by with its buildings
and streets on tides
that carry me
inland to the rivers
or to the lake
at sunrise.

I pass by a street of cream city brick
steep in its course from another century
and now hear it ring with the echo
of Roman hills I have seen.