Roman/Modern Poem by David Whittingham

The forum in a metal case,
Alexander’s library with a brick face,
Slave human habitation,
Stuck near the station,
The railway stretching like a vein,
Across the country like a stain,
The latrine,
Then bath house dream,
Once a place of conversation,
Now a place of drinking, vomiting and mastication,
The senate, once a source of strength,
Now a government, stinking of contempt,
The news once carried by word of mouth,
Now focused on the south,
Booze was once a social thing,
Now a £50 pound fine what a sting,

Life was so cheap to loose,

What’s the difference?

It’s for us to choose.