dusty pathways seducing endlessly br fire birds are chirping on the stairs of Vesuvius br grinding love down from its trembling cage br let them prove their brave souls fights on War of Antiochos br br so the blessed trooper who guard all the others br it is likely God, with angels singing round ruined shrines br Caesar may pluck them with the bitter strike to gather br come and fight with me, my barefoot children br br black dress witches sink in man's despair br Rome's orphans of the earthly grief br they say, how long, O cruel tyrants br will you stand to conquer the world? br br pale wanderers were speaking at the wall of Colosseum br they know no other words except O a mere pleasure br the rushing of the iron wheels is shocked br do you hear our wishing any more? br br (dedicated to a poet friend at poemhunter, Louis Rams)br br Ahmad Shiddiqibr br