May 1945

When we entered Venice it was flowers all the way
For the war was almost over, and we had won the day.

'Bellissimo Tenenti!' cried the girls as I drove by
In my Regimental Splendour, waving beret to the sky.

We were wined and we were dined, for Tedesco was no more
And everywhere we went, there were flowers on the floor.

But I knew beneath the flowers, so beautiful, so red,
We had ridden on a carpet of the bodies of the dead.