Till Niermann
Why should the eighth month not bear my name?
Did I not bring peace to the Empire? Is not my reign the inauguration of the Pax Romana? Did I not expand our territory while maintaining the peace?
Oh, but some of you cry, “Republic!” Others whisper, “Tyrant!”
Is it the Republic you desire? Would that be the same one that collapsed under her own corruption? The same one whom my adopted father, Julius Caesar, co-ruled in Triumvirate, before his betrayal by his own father-in-law, Pompey? The same one I, myself, co-ruled in yet another, before defeating the traitor Marc Antony?
Look around you. Women welcome their husbands to their beds each night. Children grow up to the delight of their parents. Avis smile at their bountiful nepotes habet. The graneries remain full, now that Egypt is ours. New roads carry our commerce and influence far and wide. Murderers and thieves fall before our police. The terror of all cities—fire—yields to our firefighters. Our unconquered legions safeguard our liberty and prosperity. Even our mother, Roma, arises from her ashy ruins.
This is our life now, my fellow citizens. This is the Glory of Rome! So, I ask you, yet again.
Why should the eighth month not bear my name?
Ancient ruins
the ultimate legacy of
emperors
I host Haibun Monday over at dVerse today, where we write haibun about August. The Pub is open! Come join us!
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So vivid, Frank! I especially liked these lines:
“Our unconquered legions safeguard our liberty and prosperity. Even our mother, Roma, arises from her ashy ruins.
This is our life now, my fellow citizens. This is the Glory of Rome!”
Stunning!
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Thank you, Lucy! 😀
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Very apt haiku to follow on from the imperial statement. I also like how Augustus is pointing to the word ‘save’. We tried.
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Thank you, Jane! 😀
Yes, indeed. We always try, and always achieve the same result: ruins. The legacy of all empires in the end.
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I’d be interested to see if the end of the American empire bears any resemblance to Planet of the Apes. I’m also crossing my fingers I won’t be here when it happens!
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I imagine we Americans will more likely follow our British forebearers into a dullard retirement from Imperial shenanigans.
I could be wrong; I have been before.
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Imperialism is the gift that goes on giving. As the Brits and the French have found out…
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Well done. It’s interesting to think that this vanity has persisted for all this time, and unless something drastic occurs, will persist for longer. Thanks for the prompt today!
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Indeed! “Vanity of vanities / all is vanity/ and a chase after wind…” Yet here we are, still chasing, era after era.
Thank you for your kind feedback! 😀
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Some lovely poetry and a history lesson, Frank! Thank you. The haiku is lovely as well.
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Thank you, Beverly! I’m happy you enjoyed it. 😀
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Outstanding, Frank. Our minds were in similar tracks it seems. This haibun just shines, and the feel and style of it is way outside your normal poetic box;
very impressive.
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Thank you, Glenn! Every now and then, I write an in persona haibun. Augustus intrigues me, and what better way to explore this intrigue than for a dVerse Haibun Monday prompt on August, ay? 😉
Thank you for the kind feedback! Always appreciated! 😀
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Apparently Augustus was great at propaganda! The boyish haircut was highly calculated. I think you capture a bit of self glory here. Nice ventriloquy!
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Thank you, Sarah! 😀
I hope my contrast between haiku and prose wasn’t too subtle. Augustus brought peace to Rome through military dominance and financial/political exploitation, for sure. All so that tourists today can visit the Colosseum! 🤣
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And so much more!
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A great history lesson in your hiabun Frank. Seems peace is not lasting and neither was Agustus nor Rome! Well done.
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Thanks, Dwight! 😀
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you are welcome!
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great use of irony.
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Thank you! Happy that you caught that! 😀
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“the ultimate legacy”… Well done!
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Love the character you’ve given Augustus. This could almost be a monologue in a play!
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This was such a wonderful prompt Frank. I am learning so many things from everywhere tonight. I particularly enjoyed your lesson on ancient Rome ☺️
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History embedded in a haibun. I like this idea. All the greatness.. yet all the ruin. Must have all been in their minds, sounds familiar.
Pat
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I enjoyed this recap of ancient history. Those Romans really did leave an lasting impact on our culture.
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That haiku at the end really brings the whole piece back down to earth, Frank – you’re really quite the hainun master 🙂
Yours,
David
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Quite the speech!! I am sold.
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Enjoyable historical haibun, taking us from splendour to ruins. Can’t help wondering what would he think if he could see it now?
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The three lines at the end say it all. (K)
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Thank you for the history lesson from the POV of Augustus Caesar 🙂
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