A Filthy Flow
An image of St. Mark’s reflected in
The waves of aqua alta warps the strength
Of loveliness. Distortions caused by sin
Are called to mind. Iniquities at length
Are brought to judgment. Past Venetians stole
That body from a church down by the Nile,
The mummified old saint himself. A roll
Of pork was placed around him so the vile
Mohammedan was stymied. Others took
The four bronze horses for the church as loot
From Christians in the East. Then Venice shook
An older world: her navy had to shoot
The Parthenon, that jewel of ancient Greece.
Deformed, Venezia deserves no peace.