Two peoples two coups d’état

In July 1943
Fascism collapsed immediately
After a Grand Council meeting in Rome
And an audience in a suburban home
When the shrewd King of Italy
sent Mussolini to the calaboose
But in July 1944
The diabolical piano wire noose
Snuffed those who tried a short cut to a truce
With a time bomb during an indoor
Conference in Hitler’s secluded war nest
After the botched attempt to depone
The Führer the Duce - the day’s special guest-
Quipped “As for treason we are not alone”

(Lamberto Bozzi, 27.3.2014)