From Livius To Livia
(Inspired by the film: 'The Fall of the Roman Empire')
She was with him
in the great gore of battle....
Where skulls legion were cracked
and limbs hewn from sword,
ax and spear;
There were long hidden tears,
far from the eyes of his men....
too oft his robe soaked
with the blood of perfect strangers,
He tore to the silent shadows
to wash away the madness....
She was in the cold fields,
with him in a bed of frost,
upon the breaths of centurions,
who would breathe no more....
Long frozen walks
she warmed the chill eve,
and morning mist dews,
her lovely eyes in the folds of hills,
Where the lilies sway her white smile,
she was with him, she and her wine eyes
The banner of Rome singed more slight,
from her bright countenance
where no sun could shine
with the might of equal pleasure;
The sheen of her tress in wide windows
in afternoon, fixing flowers neath
groping bowers,
some darling power,
taming more day by day ----
The once loyal centurion unto Rome
his undying love,
dead! for a queen's lovely unmet
(LIVIUS)
" Rome? Rome?
What are you unto her?
Shall I slay her for thee and lay
her broken body on the front steps
of the senate?
Spawn of thy darling Aurelius, o Commodus?
O Commodus!
Since elder days
we have lived as brothers,
But thy appetite too voracious,
thy bite too venomed....
Hercules are you not!
nor tempered Emperor ----
Even for thy noble father,
the throne I have given;
but murder on thy lips!
Laughing, the gods....
and thunderous their tongues,
Vienna, another host to madmen?
nay, she I will not give
Livia! O lovely Livia!
with me in the cool of breeze,
In far lands thy lips found a way
in the flames of desire....
Wild with your yearning heart,
how the meadows could not
conjure quite thy shades,
for all their lovely array....
With daffodils, daisies
and wind swept vales,
and honey wafts to taste
thy fragrant hair
So wandering your kiss
when free of your father's gaze....
Though always his shadow
on torch-lit walls,
his salient silhouette too tall,
Valor, beyond the great halls in Rome!
Livia! O lovely Livia!
through the din of battle,
and the cool beds of fields,
sable tress,
with wine eyes
When love would have me
(I heard your call)
Whispering on the winds in May "
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