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Best Famous Gladiator Poems

Here is a collection of the all-time best famous Gladiator poems. This is a select list of the best famous Gladiator poetry. Reading, writing, and enjoying famous Gladiator poetry (as well as classical and contemporary poems) is a great past time. These top poems are the best examples of gladiator poems.

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Written by Muhammad Ali | Create an image from this poem

There live a great man named Joe

There live a great man named Joe
who was belittled by a loudmouth foe.
While his rival would taunt and tease
Joe silently bore the stings.
And then fought like gladiator in the ring.


Written by Elizabeth Bishop | Create an image from this poem

Sleeping On The Ceiling

 It is so peaceful on the ceiling!
It is the Place de la Concorde.
The little crystal chandelier
is off, the fountain is in the dark.
Not a soul is in the park.

Below, where the wallpaper is peeling,
the Jardin des Plantes has locked its gates.
Those photographs are animals.
The mighty flowers and foliage rustle;
under the leaves the insects tunnel.

We must go under the wallpaper
to meet the insect-gladiator,
to battle with a net and trident,
and leave the fountain and the square
But oh, that we could sleep up there....
Written by Andrew Barton Paterson | Create an image from this poem

Ave Ceasar

 Long ago the Gladiators, 
When the call to combat came, 
Marching past the massed spectators, 
Hailed the Emp'ror with acclaim! 
Voices ringing with the fury 
Of the strife so soon to be, 
Cried, "O Caesar, morituri 
salutamus te!" 

Nowadays the massed spectators 
See the unaccustomed sight -- 
Legislative gladiators 
Marching to their last great fight; 
Young and old, obscure and famous, 
Hand to hand and knee to knee -- 
Hear the war-cry, "Salutamus 
morituri te!" 

Fight! Nor be the fight suspended 
Till the corpses strew the plain. 
Ere the grisly strife be ended 
Five and thirty must be slain. 
Slay and spare not, lest another 
Haply may discomfit thee: 
Brother now must war with brother -- 
"Salutamus te!" 

War-torn vet'ran, skilled debater, 
Trickster famed of bridge and road, 
Now for each grim gladiator 
Gapes Oblivion's drear abode. 
Should the last great final jury 
Turn their thumbs down -- it must be! 
"Ave, Caesar, morituri 
salutamus te!"

Book: Reflection on the Important Things