Some Dark Green Sea 47bc Poem by Terry Collett

Puella,
Domitia says to me,
she is with Annona,
my mistress,
on the balcony
overlooking the sea.

The way the woman
beckoned me
with her crocked finger
as if I were her slave
and not Annona's.

Amy,
Annona says,
bring us wine and fruit.

I bow and she winks
an eye at me
as if to say
it is just as things
must be.

They talk as I leave
the balcony;
I am not angry;
I am a slave after all,
but the way Domitia
just said Puella,
as if that was all I was,
nothing more.

Little does she know
that Annona and I
made love last night,
that I had licked my tongue
along Annona's stomach
from her nest to her neck,
that Annona had said
more more and I did
and I had to place
my hand upon her lips
to hush her sounds of joy.

I bring the wine and fruit
and lay it on the table
and then stand by in waiting
for further instructions,
watching Domitia greedily
gulp the wine,
as my mistress sips hers
and smiles at me.

Must she stand there
like some thin hawk
watching us?
Domitia says,
gesturing toward me.

Annona says,
I like Amy near me
in case I need her
and as my protector.

Protector? Her?
Domitia says
grinning at me,
her dark hair tied back
behind her head tightly.

Amy was a gladiator,
and Marcus bought her for me,
and saved her life
from certain death,
Anonna says,
eyeing me
then Domitia.

Gladiator?
And Marcus has her
here with you?
Domitia says frowning,
wine dribbling
down her chin.

I tongued Annona last night,
and she held me close
and kissed me all down
from neck to navel,
and as I stand there
watching Domitia gaze at me,
I wish her gone,
to drown in some
dark green sea.