Stones of Venice
Modern poetry modern verse contemporary poetry contemporary verse modern poem contemporary poem
We call the blinds Venetian but of course
If opened they don’t yield Venetian views.
They block the sight of English boredom, force
Much worse. The clutters in my lounge refuse
To let me think about medieval art
And architecture spangled by the East,
Or arches that the ponti all impart
While gondolas give passengers a feast
For eyes. Mosaics even on the walls outside
Palazzi, some tesserae’s golden glow,
Prove Venice as a gussied up, jewelled bride,
Gemmed beauty as canali ebb and flow.
And not just beauty…handsomer than nose
On groom as dusk on la laguna knows.
~ Phillip Whidden