I took a walk
from our quarter
to St. Mark's
the snaking streets black and slick
in the night rain
in the evenings risotto
and sweet white wine
the galleries and museums memorable
Canaletto, Giotto,
but chiefly
it was the facade of Venice
that beguiled me,
the architecture, the fantasy, the dream
the secret alleyways that lead to scenes of gondoliers.
The Grand Canal
the palazzi, bridges and churches
luminous and illusory,
like in a liquid dream.
Donna Bamford
In Venice they do let heaven see the pranks
They dare not show their husbands; their best conscience
Is not to leave't undone, but keep't unknown.
William Shakespeare 1564 - 1616
No mask like open truth to cover lies,
As to go naked is the best disguise.
William Congreve 1670 - 1729
You say, to me-wards your affection's strong;
Pray love me little, so your love me long.
Robert Herrick 1591 - 1674
'Oh love is fair, and love is rare;' my dear one she said,
'But love goeslightly over.' I bowed her foolish head,
And kissed her hair and laughed at her. Such a child was she;
So new to love, so true to love, and she spoke so bitterly.
But there's wisdom in women, of more than they have
known,
And thoughts go blowing through them, are wiser than their
own,
Or how should my dear one, being ignorant and young,
Have cried on love so bitterly, with so true a tongue?
There's Wisdom in Women - Rupert Brooke 1887 - 1915
