Lisbon, A Musing

This, a muse of
Lisbon

The birthplace of my Saint: Anthony!
and what did I find there?
What did I lose?

Thousands of years of city life
White marble cobblestones weathered by millions of feet over time

Lisbon this rich net of being, has been, will be
Dimensions of history simultaneous in this now
web of inky deep space time
in sky blue golden sunshine

The white marble cobblestone
avenidas end at the plaza,
which extends into stairs that descend into the ocean 🌊

Haunted here by ghosts on these steps,
millenia of beautiful woman singing to the sea
The longing Love of fishermen and sailors’ wives
wailing endlessly at the waves
where their husbands sailed away -
Will they see them again, or will Neptune have his way with them?

Heart strings timeless, resonance plucked
Fado in the air earth water
sorrowful deep hope and prayers
grace and strength because the woman will go on and on, near...far...
Man or no Man

There are children who will need presence
And the mother must provide
Heart divided on the water and on land
Calling out to mermaid sisters who gather by this coast in sorority
and sail with the men to keep them safe

These histories and stories you sense in Lisbon
white marble cobblestones, heart break sea songs

and castles

The castles
keep watch over land and sea
Walls of rock and stone
Fortress battalion protection
always watching, always listening to the songs of the city
Could you imagine the threat that might approach
Those soldiers who stood watch and saw
Armies, legions besieging the city
Citizens run to the castle for protection from invaders
but the castle too a dungeon a
Torture chamber, Knights Templar and
Moors
the military and god
Crusades and conquests
If the walls of the castles could talk, aye?

This city Lisboa
a plump decadent fig in the glorious Portuguese countryside
With sunshine shimmering on the white marble cobblestones

Graffiti to the nines in Lisbon
Dark hair olive skin European beauties
and culture like a fine wool sweater and seafood and stacks of books
And a snifter of brandy or port
And boat people having a picnic

This, my muse of
Lisbon

💛 Sara!