“When living and working in Rome,
John Rusher (my future husband)
and I used to take the bus out to Tivoli,
a small town and park in the nearby hills.
The gardens, called the Ville d'Este, had
been developed by the family of that name.
They were full of fountains, winding paths,
prospects and various statues of fantastic
creatures, both human and beast.
It was winter, but in a warm tweed suit
I remember not feeling cold, but only
a sort of Sunday-afternoon contentment.”