PostPoems Be Artistic. Be Creative. Be Inspired!

I: Slave Girl

 

Two days

Two more days and I'll die in Rome

I'm too sick to sell, yet they bring me along

I'm too sick to rape, yet they bring me along

I'm too weak to work, but they bring me along

I'm too frail to fight, so they bring me along

They believe I'll last two more days

 

Two days

And they say there are lions in Rome

And they say that people will watch

And they say that no one will help

And even that many will cheer

My skin feels so fragile

But they say I'll last two more days

   

II: The Gladiator

 

Cold sweat and a hot sun and cold steel and hate

A sharp sword and soft flesh and a stone heart and hate

I woke this morning with a tear in my eye but I never remember my dreams

I'll lie awake again tonight 'till my fists unclench and let go of another man's dreams

Somewhere someone remembers me, but I've forgotten her name

I've forgotten her face

I've forgotten that you loved me

Once

When I was a man

And had dreams

And could wake in the morning with a tear in my eye and tell you why    



III: Mother Slave



She reminds me of my daughter

And she, too, will die

Too weak to accept my water

But strong enough to cry



It rained yesterday

Though, I don't think she knows

Giving life to God's creatures

But the wagon never slows



The sword and shield and might of Rome

Rust eventually erodes

The immortal part, with a dust dry heart

Even the rain won't wash her roads



In fever's heat she dream's of life

Even water won't cool her brow

I don't think she'll live to be a slave

I don't think I'm the lucky one



IV: Letter From a Soldier to his Mother

 

As a man, I've always sworn to protect women; especially you, Popeae, and the grandest lady of all, Rome herself. That is why I became a soldier. As a soldier I'm sworn to do my duty, my duty to Nero. Mother, this isn't a letter from your son who is a soldier. And this isn't a letter from a man who is a soldier. There's nothing in a soldier except his duty to Nero. He has ordered me to destroy the fairest lady of them all, and I will kill the man in me that has sworn to protect her. Mother, I'm going to burn Rome.  

your little soldier    



V: Nero's Fire

 

I do not destroy

I consume

I consume your fear

Your fear of dying

Your fear of living

Your fear of Nero

Your fear of Rome

I consume your power

Your power over the sick

Your power over the living

The power that is Nero

The power that is Rome

I do not destroy

I consume

I consume that which you, yourself,

have already lost