Gondolas Quote by Joseph Brodsky
““It really does look like musical sheets, frayed at the edges, constantly played, coming to you in tidal scores, in bars of canals with innumerable obbligati of bridges, mullioned windows, or curved crownings of Coducci cathedrals, not to mention the violin necks of gondolas. In fact, the whole city, especially at night, resembles a gigantic orchestra, with dimly lit music stands of palazzi, with a restless chorus of waves, with the falsetto of a star in the winter sky.””
About This Quote
Source Poem: 1995, “The City” in collection “Collected Poems”, Joseph Brodsky
He likens a nocturnal city to a vast, complex orchestra of sounds and structures
In simple terms: The city at night feels like music made of architecture and water
Listen to the city’s nocturnal symphony
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- urban exploration
- night walks
- creative writing
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What emotions does the city’s nightscape evoke?
- How does music shape our perception of place?
The metaphor may romanticize urban challenges, overlooking hardships