AT THE MOCK BATTLE

AT THE MOCK BATTLE

I went to the amphitheatre
to watch the mock battles

being a good citizen
of Rome

bought a,programme
bought tiny tray of treats

they make it
look so good
look like
real bloodshed

this
not convincing enough
for Caligula, our newly
crowned God-Emperor

but
I believe
death
should not be

the default criterion
for verisimilitude

sometimes blood
needs
to be more than real.