Maybe Florence, maybe Basel? Hanging with Elvis.
Maybe Florence, maybe Basel…
Once beautiful Swiss gal befriended me in the late Spring of 1979. We met in London and she told me. London is okay, but Florence in the month of May. A blessing. The flower are blooming and the world is so beautiful. Maybe you and I can leave London and we can dance in the streets of Florence.
I followed her to her home in Basel. Her father welcomed me as a friend. We drink sweet wine and we danced by the river Rhine. She told me. We are young and the late days of Spring, gave us the kindness of warm days and perfect nights. We are the lucky ones.
We went to Florence in early June and I fell in love with the ancient city. Dear Muriel took my hand and we wandered everywhere. She spoke five languages and her eyes. Always joyful and filled with wonder. She told me often. We were lucky we met on the big storm going to Dover. My friends got sick and you and I. Kept drinking and we loved the dancing ship.
I told her. Thank you my beautiful Muriel for befriended a lonely traveler. I love your city Basel and you are right. Florence in the late days of Spring. So beautiful to behold.
She smiled and she told me. You promised me sweet red wine and a dance. I brought her close and we danced for the stars, we danced for the midnight moon. I whispered to her. I will never forget your kindness, I will never your beautiful voice and your gentle eyes.
I left Germany in June,1980. We wrote to each other for five years. Her letter, always so sweet and so kind. Now a old man remembered the city of Basel, the city of Florence.
I am drinking alone and I told the night. Maybe Basel, maybe Florence my dear friend. Beautiful Muriel, I am still dancing with you by the Rhine River in Basel in my sweet dreams. I am still holding your hand and listening to your gentle voice in the beautiful city of Florence in my sweet dreams.
I learn too late. Love can be sweet and love doesn’t take everything from us. Maybe Basel, maybe Florence? We can find each other on a blue moon night.
Coyote