The Villa By The Sea Poem by John Lars Zwerenz

Ah! - The villa by the boundless sea,
It was a lovely, enchanting stay.
Although it was the summer of 1933
It seems I was there only yesterday.

With the tall, gray mountains as a backdrop,
And the Mediterranean lapping below
Every white-sashed, long, open window,
Every night and day the bottles would pop,
Flowing with sanguine, bright chardonnay.

You wore a dress of carmine red,
And danced to every song until the moon went dead.
I kissed you endlessly,
Upon the many terraces, and every breezy balcony.

Ah! - Drinks were of plenty, plenty.
And when the ballroom lights went dim,
We followed the piper, the seraphim,
Down to the shores of the blue Riviera.

We were surrounded there by marigold blooms.
And when we were sated with the fresh sangria,
We would return to the airy dance rooms.

I was your drunken Byron, your Poe,
And you were my girl.
How the wine did flow,
With a whoosh and a whirl! -

Remember riding
In your sister's black car?
What fantastic orb or star
Did we not behold go gliding?

We rode through the hills
With the radio streaming.
Your breasts were sunny daffodils.
Am I still there, or am I dreaming?

Down the mount, over the glen,
Our wheels did roar.
Our days were the things of dreams.
Such folly now it seems? -
O, tell me then,
What was life made for?

JOHN LARS ZWERENZ