Three Stories & Ten Poems

<h2><SPAN name="RDA"> RIPARTO D’ASSALTO </SPAN></h2> <div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> <div class="line"> Drummed their boots on the camion floor, </div> <div class="line"> Hob-nailed boots on the camion floor. </div> <div class="line"> Sergeants stiff, </div> <div class="line"> Corporals sore. </div> <div class="line"> Lieutenant thought of a Mestre whore— </div> <div class="line"> Warm and soft and sleepy whore, </div> <div class="line"> Cozy, warm and lovely whore; </div> <div class="line"> Damned cold, bitter, rotten ride, </div> <div class="line"> Winding road up the Grappa side. </div> <div class="line"> Arditi on benches stiff and cold, </div> <div class="line"> Pride of their country stiff and cold, </div> <div class="line"> Bristly faces, dirty hides— </div> <div class="line"> Infantry marches, Arditi rides. </div> <div class="line"> Grey, cold, bitter, sullen ride— </div> <div class="line"> To splintered pines on the Grappa side </div> <div class="line"> At Asalone, where the truck-load died. </div> </div></div> <div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />