O Caesar!
By David Taehee Lee
Julius Caesar, a man of greatness was he
Noble blood of the patrician flowing
Charmed Rome mighty strong, the one lady he loved
Claimed his place, crossed the Rubicon gushing
The senate hails the general, Rome’s great lord
Shaken were the old ones, trembling and dreary
Bane of all Egypt, Caesar works miracles
But no two powers thrive under one sky.
Passion ablaze, he went through the crucible
He loved his great men, Rome he transfigured
Nation of people, Utopia on earth
He lives to be spared and joy to be spread!
But alas, the ambition so terrible
Declared himself emperor forever
What was once mere anger now tastes so bitter
Alas, inflamed fearsome rage aquiver.
Good words and heart once enthralled Rome, they
falter She but a puppet, he shakes the strings
Once so merry, dead the songs of revel
Clawed itself open, black heart of the lynx.
Blinded by sin of greed, Julius thy fool!
Did he not see Rome’s vast prosperity?
Hath Tiberius and Gaius wake him not?
Ah, then so call forth the calamity.
Ides of March promised, Caesar repents ought
But clemency give not, the conspirer
For Ares hath parted, mortals doomed to die
No Anthony shall change fate of murder.
The noon sun casts shadows on Rome’s cobbled lanes
Felled him on knees and stabbed him till breath ceased
His blood red, like that of any man he had slain Frail
in death, despite victories and feats.
But there is another, your doom not in vain
For Rome is born anew, your dearest wish.
O Caesar! Even in thy death you served Rome
Your gifts, great lord, we shall always cherish .
