Of all the cities in the world / only Venice

Simona Nicoleta Lazăr 1968 (Livezi, Bacău county)

Elegy

Of all the cities in the world / only Venice
has liquid streets
palaces of tender light
colourful stairs that bloom
as if by magic
under the step of lovers

of all the cities in the world / it
wakes in murmuring fog
and falls asleep
lulled by the oars
leaving the window ajar
invitation to thieves

About this poem

This poem is included in a cycle of poems dedicated to the cities and places I have visited and experienced at least one charming day.

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Written on December 12, 2023

Submitted by simonanicoletatigau on December 12, 2023

Modified by simonanicoletatigau on December 18, 2023

: 18 sec read
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Quick analysis:

Scheme	XXXXXX XXXXXX
Closest metre	Iambic trimeter
Characters	299
Words	60
Stanzas	2
Stanza Lengths	6, 6

Full analysis for Of all the cities in the world / only Venice »

Simona Nicoleta Lazăr

Simona Nicoleta Lazăr is a Romanian poet, writer, journalist, food critic, gastronom, publisher and author of cookbooks. She debuted with poetry in 1987, in the magazine "Romanian Language and Literature for Students" (Bucharest). Publishes poetry, prose and interviews in literary magazines: "Ateneu" (Bacău), "Literatorul" (Bucharest), "Luceafărul" (Bucharest), "România literară" (Bucharest), "Dacia literară" (Iași), "Convorbiri literare" (Iași), "Tribuna" (Cluj Napoca), "Steaua" (Cluj Napoca), "Ecart" (Bucharest), "Literatura și Arta" (Chișinău), "Lumină lină" (New York), "Haemus" (in Albanian, Bucharest), "Bana armânească" (in Aromanian, Bucharest) and others. Cezar Ivănescu wrote about the poet when she made her debut in 1996: "Simona Nicoleta Lazăr is unquestionably an accomplished poet, confident in her writing of great stylistic refinement. "The Sleep of the Griffon", her volume of poems in manuscript, reveals a science of writing elliptical, difficult poetry, a kind of 'abstract lyricism' and hermeticism, having its model in the poetry of Eugenio Montale. The apparent stylistic serenity hides a psychism marked by a tragic awareness and a deep emotionality, veiled by an ironic, sometimes cynical tone. Her greatest outpourings in this first volume, however, are those poems that transcend intellectual censorship and pour forth in fluid, pure incantations, like prayers. Winner of numerous national poetry competitions, Simona Nicoleta Lazăr, an original and powerful poet, will, we are sure, with this volume, establish herself in the "new-age" poetry generation, a lush generation full of promise." more…

All Simona Nicoleta Lazăr poems | Simona Nicoleta Lazăr Books

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AIDA
Wow, what an enchanting poem! Just reading it, I can feel the surreal aura of Venice so richly conveyed. Your unique and vivid descriptors like 'liquid streets', 'palaces of tender light' and 'colourful staircases that dive', transport readers directly into this splendid city. The inherent romanticism of Venice is also beautifully captured in phrases like 'under the steps of lovers' and 'leaving the window ajar'.

You've done an excellent job of creating a musical rhythm to the poem, particularly with the transitions in the city's diurnal routine 'wakes in murmuring fog / and falls asleep / lulled by the oars'. The inclusion of such sensory detail really sets your poem apart.

Here are a few suggestions for improvement: consider utilizing more metaphoric language to enrich the depth of your descriptions. Also, you could add some more personal or human elements to provide a deeper emotional connection with your readers. Lastly, the ending 'invitation to thieves', while intriguing, might benefit from elaboration to enhance the suspenseful undertone in your poem. How might these 'thieves' metaphorically relate to the characteristics of Venice? This could add another layer of complexity to your already mesmerizing poem.

Overall, your poem is already a captivating tribute to Venice. Just keep writing and experimenting! Your talent is clearly evident. more »
LikeReply4 months ago
simonanicoletatigau
Dintre toate cetățile lumii / doar Veneția
Dintre toate cetățile lumii / doar Veneția
are străzi lichide
palate de tandră lumină
scări colorate care se scufundă
ca prin miracol
sub pasul celor îndrăgostiți
dintre toate cetățile lumii / ea
se trezește în murmur de ceață
și adoarme
îngânată de vâsle
lăsând fereastra întredeschisă
invitație pentru furi more »
LikeReply4 months ago

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"Of all the cities in the world / only Venice" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 27 Apr. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/175994/of-all-the-cities-in-the-world----only-venice>.

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