You may recall this photo and poem from a Poetic Thursday post in May of 2020.
Please continue reading for what I feel is an almost unbelievable story.
This was my poem:
The Gondola Ride
The gondolier continues to paddle along,
but no longer serenades them with a song.
It’s been 60 years since these two said “I do”;
he’d do it again, and she would, too.
To celebrate they booked this ride,
still happy to be by each other’s side.
The gentle motion, the gondolier’s song,
and the urge to nap became just too strong.
This photo snapped by a person nearby:
a small souvenir they didn’t have to buy.
It’s just another memory in this sweet life
they spend together as husband and wife.
One day last month, I received an email from someone named Darlene. She is the DAUGHTER of the man in the gondola photo!! How exciting is that?! This was her message:
“Your poem is so lovely that I wanted to ask you if I could use it in a gift to my Dad? He turns 80 years old this week and I think he would absolutely love your poem! My dad and his wife had a wonderful trip to Italy and seeing their picture and knowing it went viral was very exciting to them. And now knowing that someone wrote a poem about them will just be extra special! I plan to make a copy of their picture, type out your poem and frame it for him and his wife. ”
I consider this to be quite an honor, and of course, I gave her my permission.
A couple of weeks later, I received this photo of ‘the famous gondola couple’ holding the framed photo along with my poem. Darlene mentioned to me that she changed the number of years (from 60 in my poem) to 26, which is how long they’ve been married. With everyone’s permission, I’m sharing the photo today with my readers.
This experience has just warmed my heart. Thank you, Darlene, for reaching out and sharing this story with me, and now with my readers. All my best to you and your family.
Just another of the many reasons I love to blog.
~These Days Of Mine~
these days of mine 
That is AMAZING! Congratulations…….glad I had used that photo from the internet as inspiration for you and so many others – and how wonderful that you heard from the daughter of the man in the photo and she asked for a copy of your poem to give to her Dad. Not many of us get that kind of feedback so I’m sure you’re very proud – as you should be.
Pam
That is an incredibly beautifully amazing story!!❤
What were the odds their lovely daughter Darlene would see your blog, recognize picture and love your poetry!!
There are so many beautiful things happening in our world, and this was just incredible.
Great story Dianna 👏
This is amazing … I don’t really know the right word, but amazing will do just fine … What a great piece – to have the pic framed with the poem ! I think we should go ahead and make the name formal – ” The Gondola Couple ” ….
This my friend, is what I call “A Kingdom Moment”. Who but I Lord Jesus could bring this about. Miles and years apart the daughter reaches out to you. Dianna, you know I have loved your blog for many years and this is one of the many reasons why.
Oh, how absolutely sweet and precious! We never know when our words touch someone’s heart, do we? And what an amazing thing to get that kind of feedback!
What a great story ! Things going full circle !
WOW!!!! We LOVED reading about how you touched everyone with that poem. It’s such a small world. VERY heartwarming.
I remember the poem and blog from the past, thinking the pic was staged!! Such a wonderful story, the odds of something like this happening?!?!♥♥