The Roman Forum
A Poem by Nicholas Michell
The Forum, glory of departed time!
Where temples dazzled, arches rose sublime,
And statues burned with life— what see we now?
Stones, fragments, dust — yet pride is loath to bow;
A few pale columns point to what hath been,
The last, lone, sorrowing orphans of the scene,
And mouldered walls, fair marbles, ages' spoil,
Reluctant mingle with the meaner soil:
Still Phocas' pillar struggles with decay,
And thy hold arch, Severus, spans the way;
But gone the car, and lightning-breathing steed,
And where an emperor stood, now waves the weed;
No more along the Forum's stately side
The musing sage sweeps by in toga'd pride,
Or hear we from the platform's glittering beak
The fiery orator in thunder speak;
But there the herdsman leans, and sheep and swine
Pollute the once rich path and radiant shrine:
Caesar, Augustus, Tully! gaze ye here,
Frown from the grave, and drop th' indignant tear.
Digital Sketch from an Original Photo by J.R. Corkrum
(To see a larger version of this image, just click on it)
To see more of my work, both in photography and digital painting, please visit my website, www.corkrum.com…or visit my Flickr Page.
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