Best Persius Poems
Suppose we ran it by a friendly Martian
(I’d say “by Martial”, but he wouldn’t be gentle).
You crave Armani, Hugo Boss, Versacci and
that Hilfiger who’s naff, naff. Are you mental?
This myth of exclusivity’s juvenile
(I’d offer “Juvenal”, but you’d refuse).
They’re mass-produced, ubiquitous, stock-piled,
your Sarah Jessica Parkas, Jimmy Shoes.
The Martian, then. We wrap ourselves in rags
to ward off cold, conceal the family jewels,
but put a brand name on those skirts and bags,
you’ll cough up ten times more. “You bloody fools!”
Apartheid is an evil thing, agreed?
South Africa once practised it. You struck.
You staked out embassies, until the blacks were freed.
Embargoes, sanctions, boycotts – oh, such pluck!
But none of you’s besieging Tel Aviv.
Our Martian’s wondering what the difference is.
Ramallah’s raped without a by-your-leave,
but you’re at Burghley, knocking back bucks fizz.
Perhaps we can’t extinguish all life’s fires.
Perhaps compassion tires, and needs its pauses.
Or is there just a chance that it transpires,
there’s such a thing we’ll call “designer causes”?
clothes rent worn sackcloth foggy divided shades
gallivant the Gwerthrynion dynasty ruling Powys, Vespasian's
Caesarea a Roman colony Severus' matropolis Origen's elegance, incensed
Bassus' treatise an acephalous treatise written Atilius Fortunatianus wrote
an Eucharistic moon celebrated sons of nobles bewailing succeeding riots Persius' poems
Bassus edited captured Caesarea a Hasmonean king gesticulated stories
favourable to Agathocles, Paetus to Armenia consul 61 surrendered to Parthians
Syria's governor appointed in 70 dirt Commagene's kingdom invaded annexed
to Rome in 72 smiles posed Agathocles' sackcloth hanged shaded
prophesies comfortable cakes offered to Demeter, Persephone prostrated
Eusebius' days of harvest cakes are delicious are sacrificial
given sacrificed animals acephalous animals athirst wearing no
clothes dadouchos Callias extravagant Callias victorious ?f????t?? fallen
over Spartan holites proxenos Callias funeral obscured, frustrated
Vitellius, frowning fighter's quizzical eyes, simple Vespasian vexed
flipped, obliged Titus to worship Vespasian, lost virginity partially