Remembering Milano
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 19 March 2020
Summary
From Freiburg on Schnellzug to Milano overnight
I want to see Alps she says, I want the snow-capped peaks
I want to be Hannibal and ride my elephant downhill!
Arise at dawn I say, in Leopardi's or better
in Homer's rose-fingered dawn
Even the Scnellzug tires and blisters from the hardening tracks
I insist on Theatro alla Scala, she insists AC Milan
We need to gather Verdi, I need the voice and pain
I flip the laptop on – listen to this!
What? She shrieks and what is that?
Callas you imbecile
Poor woman, what man made her do mess like that?
But Passepartout tonight there is a Durban homegirl singing
I do not do Hotnot Venuses she insists.
I want to see Balotelli's thighs in Berlusconiville
Then the border guards woke us up for passports or IDs
They homed in on me
It told you she says, shave the beard
Beard is one step down from Black.
The train shrieks to a halt
And we strut out
And spend the sunshine at the piazza by the Duomo sipping blood
Talking of Sforza and gargoyles
And wandering whether the Slovinian guide was right at the Venaculo
That there was a girl taking on Christ's last sup
At midnight at the station I was full of Verdi, slaves and Jews
Flying home on silver wings my thoughts, flying home
My dear Dead Christ of Brera.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- From Around the World in Eighty DaysThe India Section, pp. 77Publisher: University of South AfricaPrint publication year: 2014