Queen of Adriatic

Labyrinth of narrow walkways,
Laced with ponte, palazzo and piazza;
It's gondolas and gondolier,
Rowing on snaking canals.

Glasses and marbles
And fanciful carnival masks;
The city where I attended my first concert,
Experienced Schultz and Bach.

O dear Venezia,
I can't help but remember
Your baroque, gothic and renaissance glory,
Even though 10 years have passed.

Resilience

I believe...

I believe
In all things marvellous -
The tiny kittens and pups cuddled together,
Or a wilderness of flowers, springing out of nowhere.
The chirpy birds chit chatting on window sill,
And the crispy sunrays that levitate the spirit.

I believe
In all things mysterious -
The circle of life
And the secret on which it thrives.
A little child's waddle of a walk,
Or perception of time, beyond the clock.

I believe
In all things happy -
Meeting of friends,
The gleeful spark in their eyes;
And then there are hugs -
Group hugs, side hugs, bear hugs, or I spies.

I believe
In all things beautiful -
Broken or whole
All those scars,
Within or without,
That are gateways to stories profound.

I believe
In stumble of step,
In stammer of voice,
In quiver of life,
That grit in the eyes,
The courage that masks
Fear & plight;
Or just a genuine, gentle smile.

But most of all, I believe
In you, me and all us beings.
The love in our hearts,
The purity of our souls,
The honesty, humility,
Innate goodness of humanity.

For I believe
We all are our own superheroes;
That with our superpowers,
We can save ourselves
And an entirety.