The Beast Poem by Gergana Teofilova

Once upon a time, in Ancient Rome,
An emperor, drowned in a thirst for fraud,
Was inspired by his jaded madness for a bloody poem,
Demanded to be held in reverence like Zeus, the god
He was more than sure he’d create,
A masterpiece, exceeding Homer’s greatest work,
It’s in rumor that he had to set on fire walls and gates,
To enter history forever with a creepy smirk

Conflagration up the hills,
Captured everyone in rags and armor,
Its hot-edged tongues gave them the chills,
Staring at them like a heathen charmer
Whether set as an accident or arson,
Chronicles still can’t reveal the truth,
But many pagan priests and even parsons,
Were trying hard to deflect the sooth

Their main mission was to still,
To set the scared people’s minds at rest,
Because they didn’t want them to be killed,
Their lips were trembling: “May Rome be blessed! ”
Alas, the splendid city’s doom was not to glow,
But to endure times of tyranny and pain,
Its mighty ruler was nothing but a covetous crow,
His severe laws and commands were just insane

The emperor lost his soul immortal,
Killing his own mother with his bare hands,
The entire palace could clearly hear his awful chortle,
Hoping to eventually leave for good those fated lands
He used to stroll about the streets of Rome,
And drink all night with friends and foes,
But pubs and brothels were not his home,
Loneliness was the only mistress he considered close

Predetermined to become a king,
But a real artist by vocation,
He required bows and honors when he’d sing,
His crazy glance was so damn hungry for attention
His retinue just had no choice
But to worship him and call him “great”,
Although they could barely stand his shameful voice,
The emperor’s writing skills could never wait

He ordered Christians to be thrown to dogs,
While others found their end in fire,
His soldiers kept on hurling boughs and logs,
To make the wooden crosses roar up higher
But even those with power fall on their knees,
And this emperor here was no exception,
“Oh, what an artist dies in me! ”- he cried,
And killed himself with self-affection