The night before I left Milan
A mob jammed the Cathedral Square,
And high the tide of passion ran
As politics befouled the air.
A seething hell of human strife,
I shrank back from its evil core,
Seeing in this convulsive life
The living seeds of war.
To Barcelona then I came,
And oh the heavenly release!
From conflict and consuming flame
I knew the preciousness of peace.
Such veneration for the law!
How decorous was every one!
And then (significant) I saw
Each copper packed a tommy gun.
Well, maybe it is best that way.
Peace can mean more than liberty:
These people, state-directed, may
Be happier than those more free.
When politics wield evil grip,
And warring factions rise and fall,
Benevolent dictatorship
May be the answer, after all.
(Robert William Service)
More Poetry from Robert William Service:
Robert William Service Poems based on Topics: War & Peace, Law & Regulation, Liberty & Freedom, People, Passion- Fighting Mac (Robert William Service Poems)
- If You Had The Choice Of Two Women To Wed (Robert William Service Poems)
- (The sunshine seeks my little room) (Robert William Service Poems)
- Jaloppy Joy (Robert William Service Poems)
- Henry (Robert William Service Poems)
- My Prisoner (Robert William Service Poems)
Readers Who Like This Poem Also Like:
Based on Topics: War & Peace Poems, People Poems, Law & Regulation Poems, Liberty & Freedom Poems, Passion PoemsBased on Keywords: factions, milan, politics, tommy, benevolent, jammed, convulsive, decorous, veneration, befouled, preciousness