Wednesday, 27 May 2015

Poem ~ Attack on Venice - Thursday, 27 May 1915


Impression sketch Italians on Venice roof aiming skywards - by Jamie. Original image can be seen at: http://www.loeildelaphotographie.com/2014/11/21/exhibition/26666/venezia-defends-itself-1915-1918-casa-dei-tre-oci-venezia

In France, experiences of bombs,
Falling from planes
Had become commonplace,
Over cities and towns -
But for Italy this was a novelty.

Across Italy and in Milan,
Told in Venetian
And Milanese papers, details
Of Austrians started
Attempts at Italian vandalism.

The age-old city of Venice
Was asleep at 3.30 a.m.
When steam whistles awoke
The people-along with
Sound of a loud signal boom.

A Taube was seen heading
Towards the city,
As all rushed outside to see
In the grey dawn,
To take on a new part history.

With a signal fire in the sky
Of Venice saw a new
Aspect with shots from Arial
Guard station guns
Of rifles and machines aimed.

For forty five minutes the Taube
Hovered safely above
The spitting gunnery, dropping
Four bombs On Venice
And seven places in the waters.

A bomb fell to San Luca - another
At the Rio del Carmini -
As two hit courtyard of Colonna
A Castelpo on Tana,
Near Rio della Tana, with effect.

The Taube monoplane remained
Under fire from batteries -
To dot the sky with white marks
Of shells, as crowds
On Piazzas and balconies cheered.

In front of the Castello windows
Exploded to cause
Injuries to four women who were
Taken to Santa Anna
Hospital  - causing excitement.

On the ground, bridges crowded,
Cheering as if at a fete -
The plane finally taking flight
To shouts of 'Evviva!'
And 'Evviva Le Mitragliatrice!'

by Jamie Mann.

Beaumont, A., 1915  Aeroplane Raid on Venice - Four Bombs Dropped - Little Damage Done. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 27 May. P.9. Col.2. Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11631026/Daily-Telegraph-May-27-1915.html [Accessed: 27 May 2015].

Mann, J., 2015. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 27 May 2015). 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11631026/Daily-Telegraph-May-27-1915.html


#WW1 #WW1centenary #GreatWar #WW1poem #GreatWar #WW1centenary #worldwarone #worldwaroneremembered #WW1Italy

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