among the ruins

by Roberto Lavidez

contemplating

the incredible

edifice

rising out

of the bare

stony ground

grimacing

with anger and

vindictiveness

what has happened

to the cradle

of humanity

cannot be undone

fleeting moment

fades out

in the light

of eternity

there is nothing else

apart from the

inquisitive soul

a stranger to itself

it is not 

communicable

because it is not

intelligible

legend tries 

to explain

the inexplicable

to reconcile what

was irreconcilable

to impute significance

to the gibberish

reluctantly submitting

to a man’s importunate

and painful mastery

vascilating between

self-righteousness 

and remorse

it can only be made

from a vague

abundance of 

old stories and 

embroidered truth

by men in tuxedos

and women in furs

with stuffy air of

social superiority

that few people

dare to challenge

too timid

to break the

bonds of loyalty

to old ways

crawling into bed

with a groan

of blissful peace

against the glimmer

of the undying fire

a mixture of fear and

superstition billowing

against the backdrop

of submission 

centrally oriented 

to the heart

of the empire

they lay vanquished

as part of the

master’s cargo

their new life

blossoms

among the ruins

©robertolavidez2013