by Julia Griffin

“Italy’s famous Lovers’ Arch collapses into the sea on Valentine’s Day:
Rock structure which served as backdrop to countless proposals disappears into the Adriatic after storm.”
—The Guardian

(After Ophelia)

“Tomorrow is St. Valentine’s Day,”
The Arch enticed the Sea;
“The kids will soon be smooching: say,
What chance of you and me?”

Then up he whipped and roundly gripped
Her stones, so firm before,
And left her scourged and half-submerged
And really Arch no more.

Quoth she: “Before you tumbled me
We made the cutest pair!”
He waved a wave. “You were my fave;
But when you talk sexy, take care.”