Bella's Visit 47bc Poem by Terry Collett

Bella wife of Albus
looks over the wall
at Annona's villa

the sea below
waves crashing
against the rocks below

gulls in flight

sky a blue
light and cloudless

Amy Annona's slave girl
stands back a bit
but close to Annona

Albus leaves soon
for some campaign of Caesar's
Bella says
is Marcus to leave too?

Annona looks at Amy
taking in her loveliness
how she stands there
near the wall
not far from her

yes he told me last night
Annona says
feeling a sense of happiness
rise in her like a small stream
let loose suddenly
after being blocked

I shall miss him
Bella says
I always do when he's away
being in my bed alone at nights
trying to keep things in order
the household
the slaves
the affairs of duty and visits
how do you cope
while Marcus is away?

Annona puts on
her sad face and says
it is hard and I am often
at a loss and sleepless night
(she looks at Amy)
and the villa to maintain
and look forward to his
quick return
(she treads his return
like a foul illness)

I do too
Bella says
when Albus is home
I am like a young girl again
running to him at his feet
and he lifts me up
and well between you and me
he and I make love so much
that first few days
I can barely stand
and she laughs

Annona laughs too
and Amy looks
at the sea below
and senses Annona's eyes on her
and wants her master Marcus
soon gone so she
and her mistress
can go to bed again
and make love in their own way
and feel each others'
bodies close and kiss
and lay there in each other's arms
knowing Marcus knows
she shares her mistress's bed
while he's away
to prevent rumours
of any disloyalty
on Annona's part

Bella still laughs
and Annona stares at Amy
standing by the wall
looking down at
the sea and waves
gulls over head
sky blue
thinking a message to Amy
I want you
love you.