The White Horses of Tarquinia
In 1966 we spent a summer in Italy; one quest was to find the white horses of Tarquinia. It became a bit of a mission. I have now found out they were in the local museum; far too mundane. I think that option was deliberately overlooked by the parents in favour of a day on the balcony drinking red wine.
It was around that time that I was told the white crests on waves are called white horses. Back to school and Jesus walking on water couldn’t compete in my imagination with an ocean of galloping hooves, Tanquinnian tombs filled with frescoes of fishermen and goddesses rising from the waves. Maybe he had a hand in the endless flow of red wine on the balcony
(and of course all hail to Patti Smith and her horses)
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