Axis & Allies - damowords

Mussolini
As rivers gently drift along the glen,
Then gather speed & gallop down the falls,
Ceasar is elevated by his men,
Crosses the Rubicon, reaches Romeʹs walls;
Its government
Soon in Fascist control
While Black‐shirts implement the soundings of his soul.
Flush Ciano left the rush of Rome
To meet his lord & idol,
& strollʹd about his famous home
Beneath a crumbling castle,
Saw playing in the sunswabb’d gloam
A pretty, pig‐tail’d girl,
“Signori, who is she” “My youngest child.”
“Her name” “Edda, already she is wild!”
Il Duce donn’d his sleeping robe,
ʺMy boy I must retire,ʺ
Thick fingers probe the spinning globe,
Rest on his heart’s desire…
The little isle of Malta to connect his black empire.
Rocca Delle Caminale
1925
Squadron‐Leader Bligh
With skilful ease he piloted the plane,
Such views to command from the soaring sky,
Thro patchwork carpet snaked the Bognor train
Tween tenements of barley, dust & rye;
Swooping the Downs
Went our stylish flyer,
Tasting the coastal towns & circling Chi’s tall spire.
At first they saw his bi‐plane’s speck,
Then heard propellers spinning,
He wingʹd over the field to check
His eleven were winning,
Landed his steed, kissʹd Katies neck
ʺIʹll rescue the inning!ʺ
“We need a six off the last ball to win!”
Giles Smythe‐Tompkinson bowls a wicked spin…
With willowflash the ball is sent
Beyond the bound’ry rims,
“Huzzahs!” are vent, into the tent
For sandwiches & pimms,
Says Nigel Bligh, “Back to the sky before the evening dims!”
Goodwood
1928