a relic
amongst the ruins
I walk streets
once strode by
arrogance
slavery
vanity
barbarians

a wreath
is laid
at Caesar's grave
as myths
of past glory
pollute
the present

the crows know

humans grand
and humans small
may come and go
like you and me
but up on the
Palatine Hill
where Romulus
and Remus
lived as
steppenwolves
the crows
made
black watchers
of the past
young black watchers
for the future
long after
we are home

perhaps they
cowered by
Nero's fire
or when
Peter hanged
upside down
only they
will know
those
undertakers
of the past

they will know
O yes,
for sure
they'll know

12/08/2013