PURPLE

Around Ancient Rome, toward the sea lay the villas of the wealthy, patrician figures who ruled the city. They were also highly productive farms. I shall leave you to decide who this one belonged to.

PURPLE

 

 

 

 

 

 

Round the olive press in the wings of the villa,

Oil’s iridescence, a rainbow made by gentle rain

Competes with peacocks wandering

In orchards of two thousand years, where

Damsons, plums, grapes, figs hang dripping from trees;

Gardens burst with aubergines,

Flowering sage, broccoli spears and, irises

All soon to grace the table of the patrician

With his sombre-edged toga, his dark toned life.

 

As night falls, the blue of day melds

With the sun’s departing glow;

Subsumed into the unique colour of Roman darkness.

 

The man looks out over a deep, darkening sea;

Lost in thought; an invisible cloud hangs over him,

Insurrection, treachery and deceit.

A panoply of pleasure, passion and pain

All clothed in the same cloud, hovering above,

Invisible in the night sky.

              

 

      What good the Imperial robe,

       if pierced by Brutus’ knife?

 

 

 

                                                John L. Berry - 2005.

Author's Note

Fashioned around purple, the royal colour of Imperial Roman Empire.

Reviews

[Fran Marie]

Ah, yes, Purple is my favorite color I've always felt connected way before it was cool

to like purple, the hot red and cool blue that creates purple goes wth my personalty

I find it mysterious, intriguing and quite beautiful

also I relate it to being spiritual, THanks for sharing

Fran Marie

[R J Askew]

'The man looks out over a deep, darkening sea'...I had a very strong image of the solitary figure in the still of the night, knowing what was likely coming his way. Very dramatic, exactly what I like best when I read. It is as if we are there, observing, also knowing. Really liked this one.

[emmajoy]

I could see this .. I could .. I could! What an incredible description - you've painted a truly vibrant and clear picture with your words - absolutely wonderful!

'Round the olive press in the wings of the villa, Oil's iridescence, a rainbow made by gentle rain Competes with peacocks wanderingIn orchards of two thousand years, where Damsons, plums, grapes, figs hang dripping from trees; Gardens burst with aubergines, Flowering sage, broccoli spears and, irises All soon to grace the table of the patrician With his sombre-edged toga, his dark toned life.

Those words are like colours in themselves, each phrase creating a scene, bringing the place to life. It's like reading Pliny the Elder (I think that's the one).

Thank you for allowing me to share .. it's going straight into Favourites

[emmajoy]

I could see this .. I could .. I could! What an incredible description - you've painted a truly vibrant and clear picture with your words - absolutely wonderful!

'Round the olive press in the wings of the villa, Oil's iridescence, a rainbow made by gentle rain Competes with peacocks wanderingIn orchards of two thousand years, where Damsons, plums, grapes, figs hang dripping from trees; Gardens burst with aubergines, Flowering sage, broccoli spears and, irises All soon to grace the table of the patrician With his sombre-edged toga, his dark toned life.

Those words are like colours in themselves, each phrase creating a scene, bringing the place to life. It's like reading Pliny the Elder (I think that's the one).

Thank you for allowing me to share .. it's going straight into Favourites

[Thomas James Martin]

I enjoyed this. I also am fascinated by the color purple and the Roman Empire though. I especially liked these lines:
Gardens burst with aubergines, Flowering sage, broccoli spears and, irises All soon to grace the table of the patricianWith his sombre-edged toga, his dark toned life
Tom