Stiletto

Under Canaletto skies
I take the vaporetto
'cross the lagoon
To meet my Magdalena.

"Your brother's wife,
She called me clever slut and
Painted tart.
I don't like slut,
And why am I a pastry?"

"They're only words.
They cannot hurt you"

"Stupid English,
Talk,talk talk.
You have too many words.
I hate your words,
Your stiff top lip,
Pip-pip."

"They're only words."

"It's too bad
Your nasty Shakespeare
Gave you thirty thousand words.
But no, it's not enough.
You want my words as well.
I hate you, English."

Only words,
Campari dipped,
Lip stained,
Stilettos.