Joseph C Ogbonna | + Follow Poet |
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Napoleon's Nostalgia

Corsica, oh my Corsica.
Corsica of a thousand charms,
Corsica of whose fragrance
I can distinguish from France.
I delight in your coat of arms
with an image the replica
of an emancipated man.
You were my childhood paradise.
In your gardens I played and ran.
Your shores inspired delightful tales
of a land fortified by whales.
Oh! Corsica, my Corsica
I long to inhabit your shores
to flee Hudson's punitive laws.
There never was a land so dear
as this idyllic island rare.
France did value thee at a price
and Genoa prospered from thy sale.
Corsica, oh my Corsica,
shall I ever see thee again?
or will my longing be in vain?
Oh! how I love thee Corsica!
heal my protracted home sickness
like a tender loving mistress.

Copyright © Joseph C Ogbonna | Year Posted 2017

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Mark Toney Date: 11/30/2024 1:03:00 PM I like that Napoleon is a recurring theme in your poetry, Joseph. He’s quite the interesting fellow. It seems you’ve captured the mind of the man with this one. Kind regards. Login to Reply

Anne-Marie Coreggia Date: 3/29/2017 5:34:00 AM If I recall correctly, Napoleon was born in Corsica one year after the island became French; I didn't realize that it was sold to us by Genoa (Gênes in French), but I surely believe you Joseph. Are you a history buff or a history teacher/poet? Your poem by the way is stunning. I imagine him in Elba, longing for Corsica. an enthusiastic 7:) Amitiés Login to Reply Joseph C Ogbonna Date: 3/30/2017 11:46:00 AM Thanks so much Anne-Marie. You are right, French forces invaded Corsica in the year 1768, a year before Napoleon's birth, but prior to that time, Genoa ruled Corsica from 1284-1755, when Corsica finally gained independence . But they later sold their rights to Corsica to a desperate France, who had lost territories in the seven years war 1756-1763. The French were eager to get territories, having lost so much in this war.