The night before I left Milan br A mob jammed the Cathedral Square, br And high the tide of passion ran br As politics befouled the air. br A seething hell of human strife, br I shrank back from its evil core, br Seeing in this convulsive life br The living seeds of war. br br To Barcelona then I came, br And oh the heavenly release! br From conflict and consuming flame br I knew the preciousness of peace. br Such veneration for the law! br How decorous was every one! br And then (significant) I saw br Each copper packed a tommy gun. br br Well, maybe it is best that way. br Peace can mean more than liberty: br These people, state-directed, may br Be happier than those more free. br When politics wield evil grip, br And warring factions rise and fall, br Benevolent dictatorship br May be the answer, after all.