Skip to main content
Mellifluous daughter of the rigid tongue
That Rome imperial taught worlds to revere;
Like the rich, flawless resonance most clear
Of silver bells are thy soft sounds when sung.

I love thy suave, melodious tones among
Veronian lanes or Pisan squares to hear;
And when in carnival, with jibe and jeer,
Thy words, in air, like fresh confetti are flung!

Before me, when I murmur thee, arise
Genoa's mart, high palaces and piers,
Or rosy Capri, redolent with June!
But sweeter still, below calm, starful skies,
I hear the barcarolles of gondoliers
In lonely Venice, aureoled by the moon!
Rate this poem
No votes yet