John Anderson Poet Lyric

Notes About The Poem

Listen to poem:

I Left my Heart in Venice

The bright lights of Paris have lost their sway.
The old ruins of Rome have crumbled away.
I’ve wandered through cities far and wide—
But, it's Venice where my heart yearns to abide.

My heart lies on in a Venice maze
floating among its waterways 
where gondolas glide in salty air,
and it's romance that drifts everywhere.

I stroll over bridges that arch over canals,
laughing with friends and lovely old pals.
Where lights flicker their secrets sighs,
shedding blues wide aside in wavering eyes.

I love the bustle of St. Mark’s square.
The swirl of crowds, so free from care,
jostling along winding narrow streets,
savoring all kinds of on-key treats.

Every night is ablaze in a carnival gaze
Cafes alive with music, in a candlelit haze.
The art and the culture in myriad displays,
enchanting the heart in so, so many ways.

My heart lies on in a Venice maze
floating among its waterways 
where gondolas glide in salty air,
and it's romance, that drifts everywhere.

At dawn, the locals are the first to arise,
gathering in bakeries under pale skies.
Sharing a coffee, warm croissant, and a chat
before drifting off to work, at this and that.

Ferries slip through the lightening hue,
whispering to rhythms we all once knew,
past the leaning palazzi in faded golden blue,
where time spins old tales in shadows all askew.

The living craft of blown Murano glass.
The art at a Venice Biennale's night class.
The iconic Venetian masks all on display
in the lovely culture woven into every day.

My heart lies on in a Venice maze
floating among its waterways 
where gondolas glide in salty air,
and it's romance that drifts everywhere.

♡Like0

Share Poem

---

Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

Karen Croft August 12, 2026 at 12:30 PM love your poem. would love to visit there once in my life. congrats on your win! John Anderson August 12, 2026 at 12:45 PM Thanks very much for your feed-back. Yes its a lovely place, though now it is overcrowded. So many layers - as the poem says there are unique opportunities at crack of dawn when the locals come out of hiding (?) - very charming then without the crowds.