Gladiator

Gladiator


Stone blocks and stone temples.
Remains of a darker time.
A darker culture.
But is it really?

Those remains stand still
although proof that even gods can die.

Conflicting emotions perhaps like those
of the forgotten gladiator,
watching now as the lion charges his way
with no choice except to perform and entertain
the sick, vicious crowd of spectators.

And so he fights amid the cheers and the boos.
He fights for his life within the stone blocks and temples
for a life that when considering really is not much of a life at all.

Fight and live for said life
or let the lion make it all go away.

Perhaps, amid that inner conflict with the lion approaching,
perhaps there is a moment when the gladiator thinks
to hell with the crowd and their entertainment.

Lay the weapons down mighty gladiator.
Lay the weapons down and stop the turmoil within.

Indeed.
Maybe the gladiator does just so at some point.

Here comes that raging lion.

Let thee be slain.


--msl2023