At the Juliet House, Verona
You can buy a heart. Plastic,
sealed with a seam. It’ll sit
in your palm, unbeating.
You can rub the bronze of Juliet’s
right breast, wish for a new love
to come to you within a year.
You can stand on the balcony
in blue shorts or a wedding dress
and call your Romeo’s name.
But the balcony was carved
from an old sarcophagus
for a Hollywood film of the play.
And history shows no Juliet -
although, if you write to her
at this address, Juliet will answer.
Chrissy Banks
