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Spqr

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At its height the Roman empire controlled what is now western Europe, parts of Asia and African coastal countries.

Its lust for wealth and power along with its mighty well trained army made it a most feared and powerful state at the time.

Its decline came about due to greed, corruption and infighting amongst senior Romans,

Countries it once contolled with an iron fist turned against them and it became known in history as The Fall Of the Roman Empire.

a bright crimson cloak ~ swathed around foreign lands the roman empire ~

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Gershon Wolf

Date: 5/7/2018 12:30:00 PM

Apt haiku, Tom... Interesting, isn't it, that the color of Russia/USSR is crimson red as well. Food for thought there...Here's some more: In Hebrew, Russia, pronounced 'rasha,' means 'evil.' ;Edom,' which means red, was the name of the land given to Esau, the wicked brother of Joseph, the Righteous One, (as in the Joseph of the coat of many colors, in the Broadway stage production, 'Joseph and his Technicolor Dream'). Best always, Gershon

Tom Cunningham
Date: 5/7/2018 1:23:00 PM

Thanks Gershon, , Russia does remind me a bit like the Roman empire,Hitler another, great interesting facts Gershon. Tom

Viv Wigley

Date: 5/2/2018 8:51:00 PM

...and here was me thinking that SPQR was the original, Roman version of the song 'YMCA'. Fine little haiku, Tom, a reminder to folk like Putin that getting too big for one's boots always ends in disaster. Regards, Viv

Tom Cunningham
Date: 5/3/2018 2:34:00 AM

Haha, funny you mention it ,all those same sex orgies and little red skirts.Funny though I thought of Russia too. Empires come and go. The walls gone, cracks in the kremlin.But one goes another surfaces. Tom.

Kim Rodrigues

Date: 5/2/2018 6:29:00 PM

Wonderful! Thanks for reading my poems! You are so funny!

Kim Rodrigues
Date: 5/7/2018 7:23:00 PM

I know what you mean, Tom! I’m better at reading brief poetry but I try to muddle my way through a longer poem sometimes.

Tom Cunningham
Date: 5/3/2018 2:29:00 AM

Thanks Kim, since I came on here I've learnt quite a lot from poets like yourself, It has really opened my eyes to all the different styles of poetry.I try and read as many as I can but sometimes there are not enough hours in the day. Tom.

Carolyn Devonshire

Date: 5/2/2018 2:00:00 PM

The Roman Empire at its peak! Great senryu, Tom. Enjoyed, Carolyn

Tom Cunningham
Date: 5/2/2018 2:12:00 PM

Thank you Carolyn, glad you enjoyed it. Tom.

John Gondolf

Date: 5/2/2018 12:48:00 PM

Nicely done, Tom, I enjoyed. John

Tom Cunningham
Date: 5/2/2018 12:54:00 PM

Thank you very much John. Regards Tom.

Jack Ellison

Date: 5/2/2018 10:25:00 AM

Guess who????? Yup! It's your old buddy from across the great abyss!!! Great write my friend!!! Cheers, Happy Jack XOXOX

Tom Cunningham
Date: 5/2/2018 10:58:00 AM

Thank you Sir Jack. Glad you liked it. Be heading your way shortly. Tom

Maria Williams

Date: 5/2/2018 8:24:00 AM

A most symbolic Senyru Tom, very cleverly depicted. Enjoyed....Maria Hugs

Tom Cunningham
Date: 5/2/2018 8:31:00 AM

Thanks Maria, it has always fascinated me although they had no regard for human life and thousands of animals killed for their amusement but back then I suppose it was considered normal. Tom.

Caren Krutsinger

Date: 5/2/2018 6:56:00 AM

I like the way the roman empire became a bright crimson cloak hat swathed through foreign lands; when I think Roman Empire, I always see he gold armor and the bright red cloak Well-penned, Tom.

Tom Cunningham
Date: 5/2/2018 7:53:00 AM

Thanks Caren, glad you enjoyed it. Tom.

Demetrios Trifiatis

Date: 5/2/2018 5:39:00 AM

Thunderous writing/ A stern warning to future/ Retaliation! Inspiring poem my dear friend, Tom!

Tom Cunningham
Date: 5/2/2018 7:53:00 AM

Thank you Demetrios. Tom.

Andrea Dietrich

Date: 5/1/2018 5:28:00 PM

great symbolism in this, Tom!

Tom Cunningham
Date: 5/2/2018 12:49:00 AM

Thank you very much Andrea. Tom.

Nette Onclaud

Date: 5/1/2018 5:17:00 PM

such an arresting write, tom... love the last line; the rise and fall of an empire... huggs

Tom Cunningham
Date: 5/2/2018 12:48:00 AM

Thank you Nette, glad you enjoyed it. Tom

Roy Pett

Date: 5/1/2018 2:55:00 PM

Great senryu Tom, so many empires in history but I think the Roman Empire is the most remembered, thanks for sharing. :))

Tom Cunningham
Date: 5/1/2018 3:07:00 PM

Thank you Roy, yes there have been many over time but they left behind some great inventions with roads and baths etc . But as the saying goes nothing lasts forever. Tom.

Paul Callus

Date: 5/1/2018 2:26:00 PM

A striking senryu, Tom. As your poem shows, before the fall there was the rise! Regards // paul

Tom Cunningham
Date: 5/1/2018 3:03:00 PM

Thank you very much Paul. Tom.

Elaine George

Date: 5/1/2018 2:04:00 PM

Yes! How many times does history have to repeat itself before greed, power and ego destroy everything. Sensational writing, Tom. sincerely, Elaine George

Tom Cunningham
Date: 5/1/2018 2:12:00 PM

Thank you Elaine, how right you are, even today we see it happening but mankind never learns from past mistakes. Tom.

Jan Allison

Date: 5/1/2018 1:54:00 PM

brilliant descriptive poem Tom so few words tell a story:-) hugs Jan xx

Tom Cunningham
Date: 5/1/2018 2:14:00 PM

Thanks Jan, I thought of that when I was away, all the swaying on the boat woke up my muse lol.

Line Gauthier

Date: 5/1/2018 10:50:00 AM

Well done, Tom. Brilliant.

Tom Cunningham
Date: 5/1/2018 2:09:00 PM

Thank you line, the dye they used for their tunics was mostly red which is the common image people know but they sometimes used a blue dye as well. Tom

Gary Bateman

Date: 5/1/2018 9:21:00 AM

Hello Tom, I really like your notes here for your Senryu, and your Senryu pulls it all-together brilliantly in eleven words. The Romans were largely successful as you mention, but the greater "Germania" ended up as a true bedevilment to their further expansion. After living in Germany here for a number of years, I can see why. The glory of "SPQR" was destroyed by its own seeds of destruction. Look at Italy today, and think of Roman Empire. Things have changed!! A FAV!! Excellent!! Cheers, Gary

Tom Cunningham
Date: 5/1/2018 3:11:00 PM

Thank you Gary, yes Germania become a real thorn in the Empires side, I think after the battle of Teutoburg forest things went downhill after that with many of the Germanic tribes rising up against them, fed up of Roman rules and high taxation.yes, Italy is a lot different today, how the mighty have fallen. Tom.