Depth in Venice

On Lido Beach

By: Charles Giuliano - Nov 21, 2016

Depth in Venice

On the road
To and fro
Some years ago
Deep in the heart of Texas
Houston's de Menil
Its magnificent
Rothko Chapel
Round room
Surrounded by paintings
Dark and spiritual
Deep as sleep
Like Michelangelo's
Prayer and introspection
Bibles and Koran
Strewn about
Space to meditate
Hushed whispers
Reached for my phone
Called Mark in Boston
Sharing the experience
Later a staggering bill
Roaming charges
Pay for play
Cost of spontaneity
Again last night
Lagoon in Venice
Lido actually
Plebian beach
No tourists
Not even the Swiss
Or great Danes
Their dark souls
Row of worker shacks
Where locals
Bathe and frolic
Spectacular blue sky
Diamonds on water
Boisterous boys
Sons of gondoliers
So many Tadzios
Running about
Frisky games
Bikini trunks
Of every color
So wonderful to be there
Reveling in Mann
His evocative novella
Yet again
Reaching for my phone
Compelling impulse
To call Mark
Screw the cost
Sharing the sublime
But messed up
Mishegoss
Friggin loss
As I awoke
Soft grey light
Winter in the Berkshires
Sublime home
No roaming charges
For mortal coil