Gladiator
Gladiator
Chosen from slaves
Trained to fight
He was placed in an arena
A sword and shield his only defense
He fought and killed
Spilling the blood of a hundred onto the sand
His final match he fought bravely
Defeated the emperor spared his life
Never fighting again he was bound
Tied between two pillars of stone
Naked, he showed the scars of a thousand beatings
He learned so long ago how to live in pain
Whips with steel tipped leather ripped his skin
A morning ritual for the rich
Sand was ground into open wounds
Flies ate their fill from his flesh
He always stood mute
He never showed the pain or any feelings
Alas he tied a horrific death
Beaten so badly that knew one knew who he was
He was born a slave
He fought as a warrior
He became a hero
He ended up as a martyr
Dying at the hand of a tyrant
He never once talked
He never told anyone
He died with the secrets of the arena
Once again he was a hero
Even in death
He was a gladiator
Copyright © Lord R. E. Taylor | Year Posted 2012
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