There, among the canals, every twist and turn Leads to the unexpected, yet another splendour, Riot of decadence, symbolic decay, hinting at danger; Look upward though at the sun illuminating the water Flowing past the grandeur hidden in vaults Towards the ever present Island of the Dead, Flooding the damned Cities of the Plain Further still rushing beyond the Pure Land To cascade inexorably onto the Other Shore. Here, in this place's essence of impermanence, I taste eternity.
This outer dazzling radiance Imbues with melting desire Refracting in stained glass Shines over frothing waves Casts over sundial shadows Haloes the heroic statuary Banished within four walls Where silence, solitude reign Realm of inner marvels
Far and wide I have travelled Through the Gateless Gate of the Jade Courtyard Bounded the wooden stairs two by two Discovering within this sparse hotel room A place as serene as a walled garden Because waiting here for me I find you And what species of flowers will bloom As I stroke the lock of the Vermillion Gate So I beg of you, don’t open the blinds.
The surface of the canal is stilled momentarily Glass like textured colour of perfected clarity Drifting pellucid azure and liquid wisps of white The grey of gargoyles on the bridge where I’m standing Looking into depths of this quicksilver mirror Marvelling at the pastel vision of innocence Decadent dream of a long vanquished Empire My reflection stares back past and beyond A transitory tranquillity falls like water into water.
The souls encased within the stone of statues,
Chimerical monsters, phantasmagorical creations, heraldic beasts,
Slowly exhale, stir sleepily, vividly animate, move rapidly,
Alight off the columns,
Descend from church alcoves,
Climb down from rooftops
To roam through the squares, palazzos and streets
Which they have always dominated symbolically
But now is the time to colonize the city concretely.
cakeordeathsite 