hadrian

O Hadrian
You conquered
The ever burning bloodfilled Temple
The frozen walls
Of a seemingly frozen God

Jerusalem drew her sword with zeal
You calmly stepped on her

Your foot upon a crouched boy
your bronze sillouette carried on the seas
to stand triumphant on shore

You re formed the land
With your roman hand
The old crevices and dusty streets
heading upward
Trodded down by dusty worshippers
whom God had left
Though they did not notice
He was missing from their high place

Walking instead toward Rome
Along lonely trails in Galatia
Even slipping down the backroads of Spain
Dining with peasants still sweating from their desperate long day
Laughing in lavishly lost women’s living rooms

Conquering
The conqueror
With warm milk
And embraces
No spears but fishhooks
And gentle hands
And words

O Jerusalem, your rebellion and rage
Your battle and blood
O Hadrian your steady right arm
Chasing victory and immortality

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