An Apocalyptic Deluge

By luigi_pagano

Fri, 15 Nov 2019
  • 1421 reads
6 comments
 
Years ago a magazine sent
the humorist Robert Benchley
on an assignment to Venice.
On arrival, he wired back:
“Streets full of water. Advise.”
 
At the time the joke gave rise
to mirth and great merriment.
They all knew that they were
canals, not roads, that he saw.
It was a different environment.
 
Water levels vary at high tide,
foundations erode and subside.
The climate is the real menace;
with temperature increasing
more frequent flooding occurs.
 
After an apocalyptic deluge
swept through the lagoon city,
the damage suffered is huge;
it is feared that the columns
of St. Mark's might collapse.
 
A graffito by the artist Banksy
of a migrant child (in life-jacket
and holding a neon pink flare)
is at risk of being submerged
but probably nobody will care.
 
It is now urgent that we repair
affected buildings and artefacts,
and to install the flood barriers
that are needed more and more
so life can be as it was before.
 
© Luigi Pagano 2019
Certificate U
Poem
Mutevoli pensieri
Other Non-fiction
Inspiration Point (work that responds to our weekly writing cue)

Comments

Submitted by Di_Hard on

So much beauty and magnificence has been born in Venice. All the art! It cannot be allowed to be destroyed surely?

I liked the joke about the canals :0)

 

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

In your last poem, Di, you mentioned how sometimes it is necessary to rant at politicians.
The Venetians have been doing just that since 2003 in respect of project Moses to build barriers that could have saved Venice from floods which has been delayed because of incompetence and corruption.
I understand and sympathise with their frustration at the possibility that all that beauty will disappear.

Luigi x

 

 

Submitted by Insertponceyfre... on

I'd never heard that anecdote Luigi - it's very funny. Venice such a thing of beauty, I hope they do manage to organise its rescue

 

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

That anecdote is one of those useless informations my wife says I collect. It is quite old and attributed to various people, including Mark Twain I believe.
The situation in Venice is very sad but not unexpected. Let's hope for all our sake that something helpful is done very soon.

Luigi x

P.S. Was it a good reading night?

 

 

Submitted by Insertponceyfre... on

It was brilliant thank you Luigi. I hope you can make it to the next one which will be in the Midlands. All pics are up on our Facebook page if you want to go and have a look

 

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

Thanks for the update Claudine. It's good to put faces to names. Hopefully I shall make the next one especially if the times are reasonable.

Best, Luigi x