Barcelona and beyond
When you have to wait for a boat somewhere
(Let`s say for a rudder repair)
You should do it in Barcelona
She has lots of secrets to share
Where to start? La Sagrada Familia
Held by Gaudi`s soaring trees
His tiled light well at Casa Batllo
Blending pale blues of skies and seas
Perched high in Palau de la Musica
Cheer the Barber of Seville
Eat the tapas,fiduea and paella
Having learnt to hold off until
At least 10 o`clock.Now meander
The Barri Gotic`s twisted streets
Which happen upon cobbled placas
Where the cafe con leche set meets
In St Felip Neri`s medieval square
Mothers sit,younger siblings play
Till the children come tumbling out from their class.
The scene seems light years away
From the days of the saint and the much later days
Of building the church and square
And the hate-filled days of the civil war
Whose shell pock marks are still there
Keep away from the rogues in La Ramblas
Ride a bike on the esplanade
See Joan Miro and Picasso
Check Impulsive.She`s still on the hard
So go and explore in the Pyrenees
And walk through the yellow and blues
Of the wildflower laden snow capped hills
Beside valleys of vivid green hues
Costa Brava has cliff-clinging coastal walks
And rock strewn sheltered bays
Well preserved medieval villages
Are tourist resorts these days
But the gems are the hill top gardens
Santa Clotilda`s a study in green
With pencil pines,arbors and hedges
And steps wrapped with ivy between
It invited us to the Alhambra
Where the pergolas,paths and hedges
Are there to enhance the water
Which gushes and flows over ledges
Into troughs and down pebbled gutters
But then becomes still or just bubbles
In ponds or in fountains. They`re there
To evaporate troubles.
Calatrava`s present to Valencia
Is his graceful albatross
It brought Impulsive back to the water
So,Barcelona adios.
June `10
