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