On the Italian Front, MCMXVI

Item

On the Italian Front, MCMXVI

"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

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!

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!'"

George Edward Woodberry

Title
On the Italian Front, MCMXVI
Identifier
greatwar_clarke045
Item sets
A Treasury of War Poetry
Media
<html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="center" class="head">On the Italian Front, MCMXVI</h1><div class="stanza"><p class="line">"I <span class="smallcaps">will</span> die cheering, if I needs must die;</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">So shall my last breath write upon my lips</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%"><em>Viva Italia!</em> when my spirit slips</p><p class="line">Down the great darkness from the mountain sky;</p><p class="line">And those who shall behold me where I lie</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Shall murmur: 'Look, you! how his spirit dips</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">From glory into glory! the eclipse</p><p class="line">Of death is vanquished! Lo, his victor-cry!'</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">"Live, thou, upon my lips, Italia mine,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">The sacred death-cry of my frozen clay!</p><p class="line">Let thy dear light from my dead body shine</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">And to the passer-by thy message say:</p><p class="line">'<em>Ecco!</em> though heaven has made my skies divine,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">My sons' love sanctifies my soil for aye!'"</p></div><p class="byline">George Edward Woodberry</p></body></html>