Open Poetry #43 |
A Roman Deserter Account |
Marc-Andre Senior Member
since 2008-12-07
Posts 501 |
Indeed I’ve failed in duty; castigate Me if you will. To Rome a traitor proved, My disobedience most deliberate, When Herod barbarously troops commoved With make-belief that killing babes behooved, Deserted post, a child from slaughter save, As Bethlehem was made its infants’ grave. I overheard three magi warn a man Whose wife had given birth the previous night Of Herod’s hideosity-sprung plan For troops to raid where newborns brought delight, To plague those homes with most disgraceful blight; Deranged with superstitious prophecy He made of genocide his policy. Of Herod’s humor, rumors had been rife His subjects latent gallows birds, he’d pelt At anytime to satisfy his wife. In Eunuchs lechery he had oft smelt, An empathy for victims never felt. In Israel he could become Augustus If only he could kill a babe named Jesus. As many infants as I could, I hid In quarters of my slaves until night fell; Once duly of betraying day light rid, We then made tracks for Egypt where they’d dwell Until the Fates would Herod send to hell. I’m now impervious to all your jeers For then I was baptized in Jesus’ tears. |
||
© Copyright 2008 Marc-Andre Germain - All Rights Reserved | |||
1slick_lady Member Ascendant
since 2000-12-22
Posts 6088standing on a shadow's lace |
beautiful Merry Christmas |
||
Balladeer
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-05
Posts 25505Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA |
Well done, Marc-Andre. I'm sure not all soldiers followed Herod's orders of infanticide, no more than all Germans followed Hitler. You present their side very well. |
||
Alison
since 2008-01-27
Posts 9318Lumpy oatmeal makes me crazy! |
Splendid work that you offer us. Thank you. A |
||
Marc-Andre Senior Member
since 2008-12-07
Posts 501 |
Thanks for reading Mark |
||
JamesMichael Member Empyrean
since 1999-11-16
Posts 33336Kapolei, Hawaii, USA |
A special one...enjoyed very much...James |
||
⇧ top of page ⇧ | ||
All times are ET (US). All dates are in Year-Month-Day format. |