Page:Carducci - Poems of Italy.djvu/36



Miramar
MIRAMAR, about your fair white towers, Weary with weight of the rain-burdened sky, Like some dark cluster of ill-omened birds Gather the clouds.

O Miramar, against your granite rocks, Grey-rising from the grim deeps of the sea With echoing shriek as of tormented souls Thunder the waves.

In melancholy shadow of the clouds Stand, keeping watch above the double gulf, Turreted cities of the Istrian shore Gems of the sea.

And all its roaring anger still the sea Hurls 'gainst the rocky rampart whence you look Over the Adriatic on both sides, Hapsburgian hold.

O'er Nabresina thunder bursts and rolls Along the iron coast; and, lightning-crowned, Distant Triesté through a mist of showers Raises her head.