Tom Cunningham Poet Sonnet

Notes About The Poem

After the assassination of Julius Caesar a new emperor came to the throne , Gaius Tommaso .

He ruled peacefully for forty years in 45 BC and was responsible for ending the cruel arena games and instead introduced pancake racing,  sack racing and cheese rolling that formed the basis of what is now the modern Olympics games.

Torture and crucifixion's were outlawed and instead lawbreakers were subjected to feather tickling on the soles of their feet and armpits.

Needless to say crime and murder became a thing of the past.

 

 

 

 

Emperor Gaius Tommaso

Hail the Emperor Gauis Tommaso
In his gold chariot with a white horse
Popular with Romans who loved him so
For bringing in lax laws he did enforce.

He freed all the slaves and ended the games
Twelve senator's plotted to overthrow
A spy in the senate provided names
Who Gauis Tommaso did get to know.

Held one last games and in the arena
Put the traitors who protested and cried
With six starved lions and a hyena
Who showed no mercy until they all died .

His reign continued for forty more years
Elysium beckoned, Rome shed many tears.




Written 29th June 2019.





You've probably guessed that this is a work of fiction.

♡Like0

Share Poem

---

Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

Jack Ellison July 13, 2019 at 6:31 AM AMAZING! Great writers think alike... Sir Tom at his best!!! Cheers from Canada (The Frozen North!) Tom Cunningham July 13, 2019 at 6:52 AM Thanks Jack, hope you get a thaw soon.lol

Lindsay Laurie July 12, 2019 at 9:12 PM G'day Tom … what we call blood sports today don't hold a candle to the Romans - thanks Tom - Lindsay Tom Cunningham July 13, 2019 at 3:50 AM Thanks Lindsay, you're right, they loved the blood and gore but many cultures at that time were the same. Tom

Sandra Adams July 3, 2019 at 5:35 PM You had me in the depths of this poem believing every word written... if this is fiction your imagination is grand! Enjoyed the read :) Tom Cunningham July 4, 2019 at 1:16 AM Thank you very much Sandra, Romes empire was built on cruelty and blood, certainly not feathers lol. Pleased you enjoyed it. Tom

Charles Messina July 3, 2019 at 5:26 AM Great story telling Tom. I almost said again...you are a great teacher of history as you have filled me with more knowledge that I never knew. Then, I read that this is fictional (lol). You are still a great teacher to me though. Great imagination and write. ~Charlie Tom Cunningham July 3, 2019 at 6:28 AM Thanks Charlie, just a bit of fun, did you notice the picture. Tom

Andrea Dietrich July 2, 2019 at 6:31 PM gosh, I was wondering if such a thing could even be true and then I saw the remarks below. It figures. Something like that, too good to be true! Tom Cunningham July 3, 2019 at 12:51 AM Thanks Andrea, just a but of humour, if id been emperor I would have certainly changed things. Tom

Caren Krutsinger July 2, 2019 at 6:24 AM I did NOT guess that it was fiction; it sounded more real that our reality today. Great job Tom! Tom Cunningham July 2, 2019 at 10:04 AM Thanks Caren, got inspired by the chariot I spotted on holiday. Tom

Connie Marcum Wong July 2, 2019 at 12:06 AM Fiction or not this was interesting reading. I thoroughly enjoyed it Tom. xxoo : ) Tom Cunningham July 2, 2019 at 2:57 AM Thank you Connie, glad you liked it. Tom

Kim Rodrigues July 1, 2019 at 7:51 PM What an interesting write, Tom! Enjoyed! Tom Cunningham July 1, 2019 at 10:06 PM Thank you very much Kim. Tom

Harry Horsman July 1, 2019 at 2:48 PM Wow, tongue in cheek, but well written, i sense the logic behind your words. Tom.. Tom Cunningham July 1, 2019 at 10:02 PM Thank you very much Harry. Tom

Joseph May July 1, 2019 at 10:40 AM Lol... Great imagination Tom..Well penned.. Tom Cunningham July 1, 2019 at 1:54 PM Thanks Joseph, got the inspiration when I saw the chariot by the sea, asked my wife to take a pic with me on it, got home and saw she hadn't got the wheels in, will have to go back lol. Tom

Gordon Mcconnell July 1, 2019 at 10:34 AM Fine writing Tom, great storytelling with great imagination too. Have a great time in Turkey, Gordon Tom Cunningham July 1, 2019 at 1:52 PM Thank you Gordon, struggling in the heat 38c, being from the UK lol. Tom

Alexis Y. July 1, 2019 at 7:55 AM Hi Tom, I really enjoyed your poem. Great story telling. Your imagination soared in this write:-) Alexis Tom Cunningham July 1, 2019 at 8:05 AM Thank you Alexis, happy.you.liked it. Tom

Demetrios Trifiatis July 1, 2019 at 7:21 AM Well written my friend, Tom, but for history's clarity wasn't the adaptive son of Julius Caesar, Augustus that became emperor from 27 BC -14 AD after the death of Marc Antony and Cleopatra? I thin he was. As far as Olympic games are concerned , I think it was and is Greek affair since the first recorded Olympic games in 776 BC! Romans participated in the Olympic games and Nero once won...all the events! Just putting the record straight in case one is interested! I hope you have great time! Tom Cunningham July 1, 2019 at 7:32 AM Haha, I didn't fool you Demetrious, it was just a bit of fun lol. Did you see the pic of Emperor Tommaso ?. Of course your facts are spot on, The Roman empire was built on cruelty and blood, doubt if they would have used feathers lol. Tom

Gershon Wolf June 30, 2019 at 7:00 PM Is this fellow related to 'Flying Tomato?' -- the fellow who ruled Greece after Alexander of Macedon?! ~ Bucephalus, just horsin' around Tom Cunningham July 1, 2019 at 4:50 AM You're well informed Gershon, yes he was a second cousin lol

Ann Gilmour June 30, 2019 at 3:51 PM Ohhh yes Tom, Tony B was out of this world, he was utterly amazing and I am still on cloud nine, haha... xx Tom Cunningham July 1, 2019 at 4:46 AM Glad you had a great time Ann. Tom

Jennifer Proxenos June 30, 2019 at 9:18 AM You gave your Emperor away when you mentioned that he punished criminals by tickling their feet and hands with a feather! But such an amazing write Tom this needed to be a win in a contest with such an awesome imagination that you have - tickled pink! Hugs, Jennifer. Tom Cunningham June 30, 2019 at 2:09 PM Thanks Jennifer, glad you liked it. Did you recognise the emperor lol. Tom

Ann Gilmour June 30, 2019 at 3:20 AM Really enjoyed this Tom, very informative and those darn traitors served up for the starving lions and a hyena, well they surely got their just deserts! With kindest thoughts Ann xx Tom Cunningham June 30, 2019 at 2:12 PM Thanks Ann, glad you liked it, hope you had a great time at the concert. Tom

Ralph Sergi June 29, 2019 at 2:45 PM Well done, Tom! Thank you for th history lesson. Tom Cunningham June 30, 2019 at 12:36 AM Thanks Ralph, only partly, it is of course a fictional write with a touch of humour Tom Ralph Sergi June 29, 2019 at 2:45 PM THE HISTORY LESSON

Ilene Bauer June 29, 2019 at 7:59 AM well done and informative, tom! i enjoyed... Tom Cunningham June 29, 2019 at 10:03 AM Thanks Ilene, just a bit of historical humour, glad you liked it. Tom

Vijay Pandit June 29, 2019 at 7:03 AM Very creative --kudos for your imagination Tom. Tom Cunningham June 29, 2019 at 10:02 AM Thanks Vijay, was in Turkey and came across that chariot and got the idea from that. Did you recognise the Emperor ' lol

Winged Warrior June 29, 2019 at 7:02 AM "With six starved lions and a hyena"...priceless line Tom...enjoyed my friend...^WW^ Tom Cunningham June 29, 2019 at 10:00 AM Haha, it fitted though, happy you liked it W.W. Tom

Arturo Michael June 29, 2019 at 7:00 AM Lovely...Enjoyed it all... Tom Cunningham June 29, 2019 at 9:59 AM Thanks Arturo, glad you enjoyed it. Tom