Venice Poem by EMMALINE ORTIZ

How I miss this city
Where once I set my spirits free
I wish I could go back to this city
Before I lose my photographic memory.

I could vividly recount
That day I asked for a discount
From an Italian who was then selling me a souvenir postcard.
His name was definitely not Howard!
I almost cried when he yelled at me
And when he realized what he did to me,
He gave the postcard to me for free.

Not so very far away, a heavy crowd gathered around
All eyes watching at the famous Bridge of Sigh.
Oh, what a mystery this history was so profound!
Hearing similar narrations from different tourist guides nearby
About the prisoners, of whom in this canal were once forced to traverse,
Setting their last sight at skies and the only sun in the universe,
Before their souls were forever cursed.

Strolling around the enchanted city of these people called Venetian
Fascinating things and places turned up one by one
From trying those delicious famous 'gelati',
To feeding the doves (at St Mark's square) I've never ever seen so many
Riding the Gondola with fellow travelers of multi-cultural types,
smooth-sailing by the courteous Gondolier in his signature stripes.
Visiting the murano glass factory, as well as the house of intricate embroidered tapestry
And of course, I went up to the belfry!
This awesome travel experience was worth every penny!

September 23,2009
Winnipeg, Manitoba