Emily Hurd: SONGS

He’s heading down from London town where he has lived his life.
She’s bedding down from running round in Venice for the night.
He happens outside her hotel as she is waking up.
And there they meet in Italy. And they hold hands outside a trattoria.

They walk to La Giralda. They carve their names in its walls.
They talk throughout Granada about dancing in Nepal.
She tells him of her passions, and they fit his like a glove.
They thank their stars for Italy where they held hand outside a trattoria.

He gets accepted to a school where she does not apply.
She only says, “I do hope you return before I die.”
They kiss inside the subway to remind them they’re in love.
And of that time in Italy when they held hands outside a trattoria.

He finds himself a steady road and a job in New Orleans.
She finds herself a steady bloke who treats her like a queen.
He tells her that she’s beautiful, but still, it’s not enough.
To compare to Italy where she held hands outside a trattoria.

She goes to the market and returns later that night.
To a letter marked with his handwriting scrolled inside.
It says, “I have found and a fortune, friends, and fame, but all this stuff
Can’t compete with Italy when we held hands outside a trattoria.”

She doesn’t even pack before she takes off for the train.
She never does look back until it drops her in the rain.
She shows up wet and finds him cross the crowd with his hands up.
And there they meet in Italy. And they hold hands outside a trattoria.


Written by Emily Hurd