Bridge of Sighs
Bridge of Sighs, Ponte Dei Sospiri, is a bridge in Venice, Italy that spans the
narrow canal(Rio di Palazzo) between the Doge’s Palace and the prisons. The
enclosed passageway was so called from the “sighs” of the prisoners who passed
over it. https://www.ashmolean.org/ennui
(for Walter Sickert)
Bridge of Sighs glows at dusk,
At least the western side of it does.
Would that Venice were the last sight,
Not a bedsit in an East End walk-up.
Supine upon a tarnished brass bed centrepiece,
Her breasts exposed for centuries
—no greater moment of ennui—
As her husband makes a sweeping gesture,
She curls up in the furthest corner of the room.
The West End or a southern seaside stage will do
To lift the mood, countersink the spirit,
Flaming Pierrots belong to this world and the next.
What enchants a precocious child or a dying man
More than a music-hall clown and the doomed protagonist?
© ross 2023
Views: 373
What enchants, indeed! Mind you, you’ve done a pretty good job with this poem. It reads easy on the mental tongue, and passes on ancient imagery on this virgin day.
I liked this very much by the way!
Allen
Thank-you kindly. I thought a nod to a great English artist of the last century was in keeping for New Year however dire.
Evocative verse. Will have to look up this artist. Also gives grounding to the great guitarist Robin Trower’s song of the same name.
Thanks. I’ll check out the song, and please do check out this video series(1/4) with Andrew Graham-Dixon on the great Walter Sickert: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAARyTETAtg