Wandering Mind.....

Late, late at night when all is quiet,
a chance to lie back, give your mind a rest.
Eyes slowly closing, afghan on lap,
time for a wandering mind to do its best.

Traveling back further and further,
hearing men marching to a steady beat.
Clay jugs of wine placed on carts,
underneath straw to protect from heat.

Nuts, berries, and grapes fill clay pottery,
along with the aroma of freshly baked bread.
Patrons file in through archway openings,
excited with anticipation of gloom and dread.

Powder blue sky above filled with giant clouds,
sun is strong with no shade to be found.
Men take their positions to raise the canopy,
while thousands of people are walking around.

Mixtures of sounds begin to crescendo,
with talking, laughter, children playing, crying.
Lions, tigers, horses, and bears,
do they even know they too will be dying.

First men to appear on the floor of this arena,
are warm up entertainers to gather attention.
Poetry readings, short plays, acrobats,
leading the audience into a different dimension.

Completely engrossed eating nuts and grapes,
bowls of berries and freshly baked bread.
All drinking wine under the hot sun,
how many more this day will be dead.

The arena clears and in a few moments,
out come the lions, tigers, and bears.
Criminals, innocents, young and old,
trumpeted in and no one sheds tears.

These are the martyrs being led to slaughter,
all for the sake of entertainment and fun.
Audience is clamoring for more and more,
all while drinking wine under a hot sun.

Hungry animals are no more,
the arena is cleared one last time.
The audience becomes completely silent,
as gladiators appear, each looking fine.

Each one trained in a specific specialty,
all well fed on pasta, beans, and meat.
Which brave warriors will live or die,
as the audience roars drunk with treat.

Late, late at night when all is quiet,
a chance to lie back, give your mind a rest.
Eyes slowly closing, afghan on lap,
time for a wandering mind to do its best.

Written by:
Karen Palumbo
Photography by:
Robert Palumbo
1/17/2010 © All rights reserved