Damnatio Ad Bestias Poem by Raymond Farrell

As Ancient Rome
Sunk further and further
Into decadence and decline
Everyone
From the pauper
To the emperor
Went to the games
And at half-time
Between the first
And second half
Of the Big Show
People were kept entertained
By the Damnatio ad bestias
When trap doors were opened
In the arena floor
And a horde
Of hungry lions, bears, wild boars, and leopards
Were let loose
To devour
Doomed terrified criminals
The quest
For bloodthirsty entertainment
Seems to be
An inherent characteristic
Of cultures in decline.