I visited Italy with my brother in April 2002.  On this day, we were visiting Assisi.  The hilltowns of Tuscany and Umbria are an artist's delight.  Every sight line provides a wonderful painting subject, typically centuries-old architecture surrounded by well-tended gardens.  In this particular view overlooking the town, stunning blue-gray olive trees lay immediately in front of me, and further back and down the hill, the Minerva tower reaches skyward.
It was a glorious spring day.  The air crisp and clean.  The trees were springing forth, and purple flowers dotted the hillside. 

Assisi is special to me as it holds great significance to my Christian faith. When a child, I greatly respected and admired Saint Francis of Assisi. I was impressed with the adult that was kind to animals, and my favorite church hymn (to read and sing) was a prayer of peace attributed to him. My inspiration for this piece was "Peace".

      The Peace Prayer of St. Francis

      Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace;
      where there is hatred, let me sow love;
      where there is injury, pardon;
      where there is doubt, faith;
      where there is despair, hope;
      where there is darkness, light;
      and where there is sadness, joy.

      O Divine Master,
      grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
      to be understood, as to understand;
      to be loved, as to love;
      for it is in giving that we receive,
      it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
      and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.

      Amen.