Belmond Hotel Danieli, Venice
Gritti Palace, Venice
St. Regis Venice, Italy
Dear Elena—
I arrived by Rialto-side canal, 1962, and the water smells of oranges and old coins. At dusk, a gondolier paused beneath the iron bridge and lowered a black basket—within, my name written on wet parchment, as if found from tomorrow. The passerby all pretended not to notice. Even the red-white mooring pole trembles like a signal to someone unseen.
Yours,
Giorgio
Venice holds its breath,
Gondolas glide in sunlight,
Stone echoes, softly.
