The underlying fallacy runs thus:
Venice begat Casanova; he was a great
Lover; couples feel “That’s for us”
— And go. They all do it, blubbing in a spate
Of sentimentality. But even in ripe
Old age Casanova was a lonely addict, fearing
He danced under the hill of Venus to a magic pipe
Played by himself. We got away, clearing
Out like rats from a sinking city. We went
Across the dank lagoon to Murano and its funny-
Peculiar shops where tourists never tarried.
In each, a furnace, a slow liquid bent
And blown again and again. “ — Don Giovanni — ”
“ — Losey's.” And with this figure our minds married.
Venice begat Casanova; he was a great
Lover; couples feel “That’s for us”
— And go. They all do it, blubbing in a spate
Of sentimentality. But even in ripe
Old age Casanova was a lonely addict, fearing
He danced under the hill of Venus to a magic pipe
Played by himself. We got away, clearing
Out like rats from a sinking city. We went
Across the dank lagoon to Murano and its funny-
Peculiar shops where tourists never tarried.
In each, a furnace, a slow liquid bent
And blown again and again. “ — Don Giovanni — ”
“ — Losey's.” And with this figure our minds married.
(1992)
