Sonnet on Approaching Italy

I REACHED the Alps: the soul within me burned

Italia, my Italia, at thy name:

And when from out the mountain's heart I came

And saw the land for which my life had yearned

I laughed as one who some great prize had earned:

And musing on the story of thy fame

I watched the day, till marked with wounds of flame

The turquoise sky to burnished gold was turned