THE HISTORY OF ROME IN FOUR PARTS: PART ONE
In Rome the ancients roused me in my bed
I saw them earlier that day with their beautiful feet
standing in a scrim of dust
clay bodies pierced with pinhole light
they followed me home
I heard them talking
scraps of paper words
slid between the legs of Venus
dull-eyed they argued over money
pushing tongues hard
hurling proclamations
against me
I cried my mouth
full of vacant clouds
the dreaming dust fell
ash in my eye