Opera in the Park

It's cotton sleeves and naked shoulders, since
the balmy southern evening's close and warm.
"Aida" underneath the stars tonight!
Bassoons and oboes, eager to perform,

are practising brief runs. The moon is huge
against umbrella pines, and tiny bats
are flickering, silent in the smooth mauve sky.
Italian stewards, nature's diplomats,

escort the pretty women to their seats.
Expensive perfume lingers in the air.
Coquettish earrings glitter fetchingly,
their wearers feigning sang froid (but aware!)

These Roman nights! Life is so gracious here.
To live like this -- who'd ever want to die?
Ars longa, vita brevis. Raise a beer.
Tonight, Rome is eternal. So am I.

 

Author's Note

It was traditional for each of the emperors of ancient Rome to build a suite of baths, for public use. These sumptuous complexes were more than mere swimming-pools. They were gymnasia, bars, libraries and leisure centres, too. In the 20th century, the city hall of Rome decided to use the ruins of the Baths of Emperor Caracalla as an open-air auditorium. Every summer, opera is staged here, under the stars.
Aida -- Verdi's melodic opera is so endearingly over-the-top that it gets a regular airing in the Baths of Caracalla.
Coquettish earrings -- In Italy, the audience is part of the show!