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Classic and Contemporary Poetry


SONNET: OF ALL HE WOULD DO by CECCO ANGIOLIERI DA SIENA

First Line: IF I WERE FIRE, I'D BURN THE WORLD AWAY
Last Line: AND OTHER FOLK SHOULD GET THE UGLY ONES.
Subject(s): ITALIAN RENAISSANCE;

IF I were fire, I'd burn the world away;
If I were wind, I'd turn my storms thereon;
If I were water, I'd soon let it drown;
If I were God, I'd sink it from the day;
If I were Pope, I'd never feel quite gay
Until there was no peace beneath the sun;
If I were Emperor, what would I have done?
I'd lop men's heads all around in my own way.
If I were Death, I'd look my father up;
If I were life, I'd run away from him;
And treat my mother to like calls and runs.
If I were Cecco (and that's all my hope),
I'd pick the nicest girls to suit my whim,
And other folk should get the ugly ones.



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