Ripened Fortune

I am at my core a student of history.

History sprouted from earth
stained with the blood of brothers,
spilling over centuries
onto the steps of the Senate.

From Gaul to Hadrian’s Wall
they marched in a phalanx
of might upon the roads
built for such purposes.

These civilized barbarians
held the world by the throat
in a subjugated peace,
a people grasping at eternity.

Borders stretched beyond
limits plunged the unsuspecting
into the depths of decadence;
fortune ripened to decay.

Now cats clutter crumbling stones
prowling endless stretches of history.
Assuming the role of feral emperors,
sole rulers of the ruins
that symbolize the end of an empire.

Reviews

[Creepy Swine Guy]

Also this stanza REALLY brings too mind a passage from President Kennedy's American University address ....

"These civilized barbarians
held the world by the throat
in a subjugated peace,
a people grasping at eternity."

Pres. Kennedy

"I have, therefore, chosen this time and place to discuss a topic on which ignorance too often abounds and the truth too rarely perceived. And that is the most important topic on earth: peace. What kind of peace do I mean and what kind of a peace do we seek? Not a Pax Americana enforced on the world by American weapons of war. Not the peace of the grave or the security of the slave. I am talking about genuine peace, the kind of peace that makes life on earth worth living, and the kind that enables men and nations to grow, and to hope, and build a better life for their children -- not merely peace for Americans but peace for all men and women, not merely peace in our time but peace in all time."

[icelandicblue]

Thank you so much for sharing that. I was unaware of that passage and it truly filled me with emotion. That is what genuine peace would be. He was an eloquent man and a visionary. Thank you again for bringing that forward for others to read. You are the best.

[Creepy Swine Guy]

It's just when you're an old guy ... you've heard lots of stuff ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AG2PwhT0TDc

[Sarah]

this is a really good write. at some points it makes me think of different histories like our wars and at one point the 9/11 attack. very good!

[icelandicblue]

It's written about the Romans and it's pretty much been the same ever since as empires rise and fall. Thanks for reading.

[Sarah]

your very welcome

[TL Boehm]

These civilized barbarians
held the world by the throat
in a subjugated peace,
a people grasping at eternity.
Love this part especially. I too am a history buff. This is right on the money

[icelandicblue]

Hello there TL! Thanks so very much.

[Joyce S. Greene]

This is an awesome write, Anne! You have described the rise and fall of Rome in just a few verses - an amazing feat. I particularly liked the last stanza. I could see those feral cats making themselves at home on the thrones of Roman leaders, long since dead. Great work!

[icelandicblue]

Thank you so much Joyce for such an enthusiastic response!

[KAOlmsted]

The builders of civilization, as it were, were not quite so civilized...I enjoyed this immensely. I was going to get all clever and fuse the words "history" and "poetry" and realized they kind of already are xD All I could come up with was "historoetry" and that just sounded like a horrible operation one might need to undergo so...

;-)

[icelandicblue]

Hi there kimmer. Yeah, sounds a bit like hysterectomy- but I appreciate the effort. It's so good to see you. You have been missed.

[KAOlmsted]

Cheers, blue ;-) I've run into some luck whereas I can spend more time than usual in the cafe this coming week so I hope to catch up on my RRs...always a pleasure to see you in there! And thank you ;-)

[Girl Friday (Sarah W.)]

I love historical pieces...period pieces and mythological pieces. For me, any type of lore is fascinating, because I think at heart I am one of those people who will never stop yearning to learn.

Now cats clutter crumbling stones
prowling endless stretches of history. -- great lines, great imagery.

[icelandicblue]

Thank you so much Sarah. I am a life long learner as well. Glad you liked this piece.

[Jack...]

This was different and inspiring Anne. Very deep in thought it seems, but if you were a student of history then perhaps merely a beautiful poetic conversation. I was a student of lunch.

[icelandicblue]

Ha ha, I have always loved history ever since I read the Six Wives of Henry the VIII when I was a kid. Thanks for the laugh and the comment.

[Mark]

Wow what a great write! The roman civilization changed and shaped western civilization if not the entire world. Love the Imagery of the cats.

[icelandicblue]

I like the cats too Mark. Thanks.

[Lydia Shutter]

To paraphrase George Santyana, "Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat i.t" You have reached back into history to give us good examples....and with all that is happening in the world today, this is so appropos! Well written poetry. Lydi**

[icelandicblue]

Truer words have not been spoken. Thanks again Lydi.

[MsJewel]

A very thought provoking and well written piece which leaves me wondering if we have learned anything from history. Great work here!
:) Julie

[icelandicblue]

Only time will tell what we've learned. Thanks so much for reading and commenting.

[Rosaria_V]

I love how you used history in this poem, and just the wording. Everything was great!! thanks for sharing great job! :)

[icelandicblue]

Thank you Rosaria for your kind words.