The Effeminate Centurion Poem by Philo Poesie

.
Oh, you beautiful
open your long hair
so that it falls wonderfully fragrant
on your slender shoulders
and caresses your sensual neck
where I like to kiss you best

But now
stroke me gently with your peacock feather
and please be very quiet
to hear the sound of the distant waterfall
so that my troubled mind can calm down
so that I don't lie awake all night again
in this deceptive happiness that has lasted too long

Such as
theater performances and sweet melodies
that flatter my eyes and ears
exquisite food and fine wine
that delight my palate
a bedchamber full of rose petals
the pleasure of strolling in porticoes
and the rapture of the melodious sound of poetry

I have become effeminate
I am the once well-trained centurion
who did not trust even long years of peace
who always kept his legionaries on their toes
who kept watch at night even on the Limes
gazed into the dark forest of enemy territory
to be a shining example to his men
But today
what good is the greatest happiness
if I can no longer defend it
because I become fearful of my inability
before the slightest blows of fate
Every night I hear it mocking me:

"What, you're supposed to be a centurion,
down in the dust with you
if you want to be spared for today"
.