TILL yesterday 'twas "Italy Unredeemed." At Freedom's altar, by that sacred phrase, Striplings, now grandsires, made their faithful vow. Henceforth those words are History's, to be kept Like some torn battleflag of Savoia's line, While the new songs and music trumpet forth @3"Italia Redenta."@1 The day of victory be the martyr's day! -- Not the grim morning when Battisti's soul Into the Darkness marched -- to find it Light; But this glad moment that his faith foresaw When Alps to Adriatic should resound With rapture, and the hills proclaim in fire @3"Italia Redenta."@1 Now, when against the mother-heart there beats. Incredibly, the heart of each lost child, The Adriatic to the Alps replies With one brave name, Sauro. Could the foe, Learned in torture only, have divined How soon that name would blend in the new cry, @3"Italia Redenta"?@1 O Italy, thy martyrs are our own, And the whole world's redeemed again by Love. Nothing more sacred is than life except The joy of its surrender. Mother of grief, Help us forget not what it cost to write In blood across thy borderland the words @3"Italia Redenta."@1 | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...DOMESDAY BOOK: ARCHIBALD LOWELL by EDGAR LEE MASTERS THE INVITATION (TO TOM HUGHES) by CHARLES KINGSLEY UNDERWOODS: BOOK 1: 21. REQUIEM by ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON TO BE CARVED ON A STONE AT THOOR BALLYLEE (1) by WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS THE ARGONAUTS (ARGONATUICA): THE MOVING ROCKS by APOLLONIUS RHODIUS |