| George Herbert Clarke, ed. (18731953). A Treasury of War Poetry. 1917. |
| |
| 34. On the Italian Front, MCMXVI |
| | | By George Edward Woodberry |
| |
| |
| I WILL die cheering, if I needs must die; | |
| So shall my last breath write upon my lips | |
| Viva Italia! when my spirit slips | |
| Down the great darkness from the mountain sky; | |
| And those who shall behold me where I lie | 5 |
| Shall murmur: Look, you! how his spirit dips | |
| From glory into glory! the eclipse | |
| Of death is vanquished! Lo, his victor-cry! | |
| |
| Live, thou, upon my lips, Italia mine, | |
| The sacred death-cry of my frozen clay! | 10 |
| Let thy dear light from my dead body shine | |
| And to the passer-by thy message say: | |
| Ecco! though heaven has made my skies divine, | |
| My sons love sanctifies my soil for aye! | |
| |
|
|
|