GONDOLA

We swing out
From high, narrow shadows,
Smiling and serenaded
Through shimmering reflections
Of peeling paint and plaster,
Afloat on splashing backwaters,

Into sunburst panorama
Of sky and Grand Canal,
Whilst pealing bell-towers
Announce our presence
In an epiphany of time and space,
Bridging history and this hour.

Our grinning gondolier
Sings out, con brio,
‘Rialto! Ri-al-to!’
With sweeping gesture;
As, to others before, did his father
And his father before.


(2008)

On our first stay in Venice, we contented ourselves with a ride on a vaporetto up the Grand Canal – which was a quick, cheap and sensible thing to do. It was wonderful too, (as is everything in Venice). On our second time, though, we decided to indulge ourselves with a gondola – and it was every bit as magical as I try to convey above. The gondoliers aren’t just ‘O Sole Mio’ merchants either – at least, ours wasn’t; he regaled us with a selection from Ennio Morricone!

We almost literally bumped into Neil Finn of Crowded House on a bridge near our hotel. I wanted to say hello and tell him how much we loved what was then his latest record (‘Everyone Is Here’ by The Finn Brothers) but we were lugging our bags at the start of our return journey and he was stood on the crest of the bridge, gazing around and taking it all in - but the moment passed and we just carried on our way...