We could call Petrarch a fourteenth-century rock star. (In fact, we did; just check out our overview of "Chiare, fresche, et dolci acque"). But that wouldn't be accurate enough for the context of this poem. He's more like a punk icon. In Canzone 128, "Italia mia," the poet shows his contempt for the Italian nobility and their addiction to warfare—and he's not afraid to call them out.

Petrarch sees that the nobility are bringing Italy to its knees. As Petrarch writes to us from Parma in 1344, he tells us he's taken to lamenting by the sad river, that the hills are inundated with the blood of German mercenaries and Italian princes alike. Peoples' lives are shattered by the very leaders who are supposed have their best interests at heart. As you see, Petrarch might as well be U2 (okay, early U2)—or better yet, The Clash.

We're not stretching the song analogy just to be hip. Canzone (or "Song") 128 comes from a larger collection called the Canzoniere ("Songbook") or the Rime Sparse ("Scattered Rhymes"). The work is deeply lyrical, in both a musical and emotional sense. Petrarch uses a highly disciplined and ancient verse form to create this musicality, and the poems lend themselves to performance.

Although the poems are mostly covers of the same song (about his beloved, Laura), we do get about 17 sonnets and canzoni that include Italy as a theme or subject. In "Italia mia," Petrarch urges the Italian nobility to search deep in their hearts for some of that noble Roman blood that surely still runs through them. In doing so, they are meant to re-discover what it means to be a proper leader and a good Italian.

If you've watched the news in the last four years, you'll probably recall the slogan of the Occupy Movement: "We are the 99%." If so, you'll understand just what Petrarch is on about in Canzone 128. While it's not really about income equality back in the fourteenth century, it has everything to do with the majority of Italy's citizens paying for the choices of the elite classes.

The idea of civic responsibility (or lack thereof) is ancient and universal. It's one of the virtues of the Roman Republic that Petrarch so admires, and it's especially applicable in the decision to bring war to the people. If you're alive and reading this, you should be highly invested in Petrarch's words on this subject. War culture and civic duty are in the air we breathe these days.

It's also reflected in our lyrical culture: think of U2, The Clash, and The Decemberists (check out "Politics and Protest" for more). Poems about war and civic responsibility are also far too numerous to mention by name (but feel free to browse here).

As we struggle to be concerned, active citizens—by considering the needs of the many and speaking up when necessary—it's both sobering and awesome to know that we are part of a long tradition, going all the way back to our man Petrarch.