THEN FALL, CAESAR

03 15 14

My cronies were adept
at running on repentant swords

I preferred my infamy
in run-on sentences
of third-person propaganda
Even in the wet-backed wheeze
of my final breath
I retained the discipline
to do my kin proud
and turn around to
say goodbye to myself

I required no muse
to compose an immortality
assuring elegy
yet I cannot shirk a nod of gratitude
for how you dangled the phonetic
mastery of this identity
over noble Brutus

Only suicide allowed
a reinstatement of nobility
to the one who introduced himself
with a Brute syllable

I was justified to distrust
the one who thought too much
Such men devour the cerebrum of
the noble herd made content by
swallowing the spirits of assumed
good intentions

Author's Note

Reviews

[Sophy Freebirds]

"Et tu Brutus??".... what a betrayal! ! Still he stayed strong. "Noble brutus".. dripping with sarcasm. :p.. well this was a piece in which you have writren expertly about how Caesar felt. As a hero you have portrayed his reaction on his betrayal... he will not let heads of his kin be low at any cost but the betrayal by "brute brutus" led to his ultimatte downfall... :) something new something refreshing

~Sophy

[kublakhan27]

Yes, 'but Brutus is an honorable man' ;P This is my favourite play, it's the first one I read in school, and it's the one that ravages my conscience like no other play or other piece of literature I've ever come across since...I'm obsessed with betrayal and the circumstances that give birth to it, not to mention the fallout that follows...I sent this one to you because I knew you'd understand where I'm coming from...thanks so much Sophy, it means a lot to me that you enjoyed this one :)

[Sophy Freebirds]

Lol i studied this too in school :D.... and i like this tragic stuff... a lot!!!.. but i also like to laugh with romantic comedies "As you like it". :) was a pleasure steve..

[kublakhan27]

Haha I've only read that one once, I'm too absorbed in the tragedies ;) I guess Midsummer Night would be my favourite comedy...geez, I just remembered I also have one called Goodfellow's Version, which also happens to be one of my published pieces...I don't like bombarding people with my stuff though haha One of my all-time favourite lines though: Speak low if you speak love ;)

[Sophy Freebirds]

God!! Steve do yourself a favour.. read comedies :p..... i would love to see your new version.. lol

[kublakhan27]

Haha I've read many of them, I just don't get the same creative inspiration from them...I have a harder time relating to the comedic characters...though Orsino the Duke has inspired me to start something...I haven't gone back to it in ages though haha

[willweb]

Consider this a nod of gratitude. This poem was very different but very well written. I really enjoyed this today.

[kublakhan27]

Thanks very much willweb

[Mehak Mushtaq]

The title of the poem presuaded me to read it and I must say that I was not disappointed. Wonderfully written. Cheers!

[kublakhan27]

So glad you enjoyed it Mehak, thank you :)

[Delmar Cooper]

Personally, I'm overweight, sleek of head and suffer no insomnia, but I enjoyed your timely poem.
Thanks
Cooper

[kublakhan27]

Glad you enjoyed it, thank you Delmar.

[David Scott]

Well, this is a telling poem. I see the BA in lit here well. An intimidating poem to review. Shall I join Brutus and plunge the knife of my own interpretations into the poetic expression of historical irony? Nay.
Shall I join Cesar in his dance of death? Nay again.
I shall in fact be satisfied to observe and question. I will let the answers find me and seek not a satisfaction beyond the artistry of your poem.
Grade A work!

[kublakhan27]

Thanks so much as always David, for the support and the awesome review :)

[icelandicblue]

I forgot the ides this year so preoccupied I have been. However your words capture the betrayal and the arrogance which you pen and slice with your skillful quill. I am enamored by your closing stanza:

I was justified to distrust
the one who thought too much
Such men devour the cerebrum of
the noble herd made content by
swallowing the spirits of assumed
good intentions

How poetically adroit this is.

[kublakhan27]

Thanks so much my friend...like many, I was introduced to the play in high school and it has been my favourite play to this day...if I had to pick one piece of literature that inspired me to enter the literary realm, it might be this one. This is actually the first year that it occurred to me to write about it though...but I probably would not have been confident enough to tackle it in the past. You're the first person to recognize the arrogance in the words, which I was really hoping someone would do. I'm not surprised you were the one to recognize it...obviously we're very much on the same page when it comes to a lot of things...so glad you enjoyed it my friend.

[Rita L. Sev]

I always know that I will need to bring my A-brain to read your poetry, Steve - and that it will always be worth it. Classic images wrapped in strong emotion... excellent.

[kublakhan27]

Thanks so much Rita, you never fail to humble me with your kind words :)

[Jack...]

My friend you have reached deep and conjured up images in me of times past, yet glaring of the everyday. We face this, we fight this and at times we run from it for it seems the only good course at the time. Your words grip the reins and pull tight to a sop my mind...you make me think...you let me dreama and you allow wonderful dancing images to collect in my visions of humanity or something very close to it. Standing on those huge steps, shouting out to the masses...be what you are and see where it takes you.

Very cool Steve.

[kublakhan27]

Thanks so much Jack, it makes me happy knowing I can conjure up those feelings in readers.

[MsJewel]

Wow! I think you have outdone yourself with this one..love the imagery, the use of Roman history...truly a brilliant piece of poetry and the music you chose to accompany your words is perfect.
:) Julie

[kublakhan27]

Thanks so much for the kind words my friend, it means the world :)

[Lyn Anderson]

I don't know why but you are really resonating with me lately. Love this piece.

[kublakhan27]

Thanks so much K, it always makes me happy knowing I can speak to someone with my writing :)