Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik (revised)

I offered this poem up for criticism on the front page, Ivoryfishbone
commented and with her assistance I have revised it to make what is now
a much better poem. Thank -you very much Ivory.

Just as the holiday brochure
had shown
the main street, that famous view
stones
gleaming as if wet
The red tiled roofs,
in the spring sun
Orange trees with flowers and fruit
in courtyards,
perfume drifting through the alleyways

Lanterns swung, the names of the restorani
catching rays of sun that
Edged into narrow passages
Small boats in the harbour.

We took dozens of snaps
A perfect scene
A good choice
Last year we went to Venice
Paris the year before

We walked the walls
Stopped to listen to mid-day bells
then,
escaping rain,
[it was April, there were showers.]
into the museum
set into walls, above the harbour.
I found little interest in medeival maps
16th century explorers
Last, turning to go
came across the photographs.

The red tiled roofs holed and gaping
street dulled with the dust of falling bricks
burnt trees
the bell towers shattered
pretty boats in azure sea
aflame
a bridge of fire
bright orange, yellow, red against the heavenly blue.

And then the caption
"This photographer killed
By mortar shell
Taking these photos
10 years ago."

Next day
on the walk to Gruz
I saw a splayed hole in the workaday street
By the bus stop,
at the entrance to some flats,
centre roughly concrete filled.
Mortar.
Smaller holes splashed
Like paint
out into the road
into new grass at the pavement edge
again on the apartment wall.

I had not been so close to war before
The brochure did not tell me
that.