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And Rome Vainly Waited For His Return
On sunny days walk beneath the aesthetic pine trees
that gently undulate in the tepid Roman breeze,
their image is reflected in the Tiberius' flowing water;
majestic is the Colosseum, the mighty power of Rome,
it has withstood time, wars, earthquakes, and pillage...
stand in front of it and reimagine emperor Nero, so fair,
inciting the crowds to hail him as a god while they caught his bread:
what was his real reason for burning Rome: madness, anger, or dread?
Did Virgil, the Mantovian poet, love and admire Rome
when Augustus ruled the empire and was worshiped?
No, he chose Naples to write the epic poem Aeneid
in a location that stunned, but he was too far from home!
The Campanian landscape was the perfect setting
as Virgil brought to life Aeneas, the Trojan captain, escaping
burning Troy to realize his fate and embark for Italy without doubting;
and Rome vainly waited for his return and hear his brilliant poem
in the Forum to amaze Caesar while senators applauded him!
Copyright ©
Andrew Crisci
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