Please click play to hear my spoken word of the poem to my original music
“Venice Midwestern” by Robin Saikia
Music and voice over by Karima Hoisan
She thought it would be magic:
the canals, the gondolas,
like a postcard’s laminated promise.
But here, the water smells —
a mix of fish guts and disinfectant,
and the breeze is damp, like the inside of a boot.
She wears her best smile,
but it’s like the air laughs at her.
Her map’s a soggy thing now,
crumpled in her hand —
so many alleys that curve back on themselves
like a joke she doesn’t get.
A gondola guy sings,
but it sounds more like a car alarm.
The buildings, sagging, tilted sideways,
look like they’re about to fall over—
but they don’t. They just stare,
vacant-eyed, like old men
who’ve seen too much,
or enough.
She had imagined romance,
but the gondola’s seat is sticky,
the water a murky green
that promises more than it delivers.
Her shoes are soaked,
and the pizza she ordered
is as flat as her hopes.
And Jim — poor Jim —
he’d whispered once, on the plane,
“Maybe this will ‘spark’ something, huh?”
But all that spark fizzled,
burned out by the damp, salty air.
The bed too small,
the sheets too heavy.
Venice, with its decaying beauty,
has made them tired,
the way a heavy meal makes you sleepy.
Her hand on Jim’s chest weighs as much as
that Murano paperweight.
They don’t talk about it —
sex, or the lack of it (or the paperweight) —
but the undeceived canals know it all
and echo it, in a customary ancient sigh.
She’ll write home:
“Venice was nice,”
but the word tastes sour,
like toothpaste in the back of her throat.
And who needs canals, really?
When you’ve got a truck in the driveway,
and Walmart.
And the soft ebb and flow of Jim snoring
to remind her
of what’s no longer there.
*Footnote: I was honored when Robin requested me to read his poem to my music:)
Digital Rabbit Hole 
Wow, great audio treatment of a touching and melancholy poem. The music and your voice both complement the words perfectly!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Dale, I’m glad you think I recited it well….I hope Robin will feel the same. I always feel an extra weight of responsibility when I am asked to recite someone elses’s work. I’n glad you enjoyed it:)
LikeLike
i liked it also, & thought your reading of it was just what was perfectly needed! nothing lacking, nor overdone: just right🙏🏼❤️😘
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much my soulkin…looking forward to our chat later today:) Inshallah❤️🌹🤗
LikeLiked by 1 person
😘👍🏼
LikeLike
You are such a creative storyteller! Thank you for sharing your talents, Karima. ✨
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow!! Thank you so much Michele..your words inspire!! I am so glad you enjoyed my spoken word version of Robin’s poem. I really appreciate your comment!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re very welcome and thank you for your gracious reply. 😊🙏🏻
LikeLiked by 1 person
My pleasure, thanks again Michele!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
A very evocative poem Karima and so well rendered.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, I was struck by this poem, first time
I read it..Sometimes our fantasies about a place are much better than actually being there. Robin is living(or has lived) in Venice and understands it well. It is the subject of many of his poems. Thanks so much Sadje for taking out the time to listen to my spoken word version.
LikeLiked by 1 person
My daughter visited Venice 15- 16 years ago and those were her thoughts too. Stinky and not romantic at all
LikeLike
Excellent, Karima. Excellent. 🌹
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much AJ for listening and glad you enjoyed it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Your composition is absolutely beautiful Karima! Cheers!💗🫖☕️
LikeLike
Thank you so much for listening..I am so happy ypou enjoyed it/
LikeLike
Beautifully done, Karima! ^_^
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Joyce.,..such a visual poem (as all of his are) When he said he’d like to hear me read it, I immediately said, “Yes!” So glad you liked the result.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I sure did. It was beautiful.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks again…I think Robin has not discovered it yet..but one day:)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Someday soon, I’m sure. ^_^
LikeLike
Wonderful Karima! And such soothing music… 💓🧡🤎
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ahhh, Shreya, thank you.. the music Is calming except when it goes into dissonance with her negative impressions:) I’m happy you enjoyed my treatment of his poem.
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a great collaboration!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much Dawn, I am a new fan of his poetry:)
LikeLike