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One Fairly Nice Afternoon In Ancient, Suburban Rome [Repost]
Will you be going to Nero's tonight for dinner?
When it comes to putting on feasts, he is no beginner---
food like that used to appear in my youthful dreams,
instead of the nubile boys I wanted to rape back then.
Some local fanatics call him "damnable sinner."
His garden banquets can now go on all night:
he puts these Christians on posts covered with pitch,
then sets fire to them all at once---women, men,
and children sometimes: they fill the garden with light.
And you can see exactly what you have on your plate,
all the easier to more fully appreciate
the talent of kitchen slaves. You must get used to the screams
of the burning victims---that seems to be the only glitch
you encounter as you enjoy a meal of such luxury.
I am going tonight, and you are welcome to accompany me
to a fine repast among writhing lights that obscure the stars.
And, mark my words, Nero provides the best of salad bars.
Starwardized
While set in ancient Rome,
While set in ancient Rome, this poem spouts a social commentary that extends to modern times. The way people today consume suffering—whether through media sensationalism, war coverage, or social injustice—parallels Nero’s feasts. The poem can be taken as a challenge the reader to consider how contemporary societies still entertain themselves with the suffering of others. By making the horrific appear routine, the poem confronts the dangers of unchecked power and societal complacency. It also asks an unsettling question: how often do people turn a blind eye to cruelty for the sake of their own comfort?
here is poetry that doesn't always conform
galateus, arkayye, arqios,arquious, crypticbard, excalibard, wordweaver
Thank you, so very, very
Thank you, so very, very much. Your interpretation unfolded the soul of the poem, and I am most grateful for it.
Starward-Led [in Chrismation, Januarius]