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The Song Of Spartacus
“Death is the only freedom a slave knows.”
--Spartacus.
He grew up as a warrior-for-hire,
more than ready to walk through fire.
He went and joined the Roman Legion,
and he fought through every season.
But his officers were very cruel,
and he had to eat a lot of gruel.
He got mad and left for Thrace,
heading back to his birth place.
The Romans hunted him down,
and on him they did pound.
They sentenced him to the mines in Libya.
No one cared, not even Zibia.
Years later a fat lanista bought him,
thinking he was very strong, and dim.
He was trained to be a gladiator,
he had no friends and no mediator.
He fought well and lived on,
getting his revenge one red dawn.
He and a hundred more,
killed the guards, and smashed the door.
He was the leader of a slave revolt,
songs were sung, words were wrote.
He battled the Romans for two years,
died on a cross in a veil of tears.
We sing of him even today,
songs of freedom, keeping evil at bay.
He died as he lived, in chains,
but his spirit rises from the flames.
Glenn Buttkus
Posted over at d'Verse Poet's Pub
14 comments:
I think it's amazing that he succeeded for so long, and it probably sent ripples of fear through the rulers... but what did they really learn?
A moving take on the prompt, Glenn. His life was tough and his death brutal, but as you point out, we remember him as a hero even today.
Admirable rhyming recount of Spartacus!
This is such a beautiful, moving tribute, Glenn!💝💝
So moving and haunting!
Epic and memorable tribute to Spartacus, I was taken back in time!
If memory serves me correctly, I read a book about Spartacus as a kid, "The Robe," and then I'm also remembering Paul Newman in the role in a movie. This is the kind of person that can lead legions to God. I'm glad you decided to honor him today, Glenn.
An epic ballad, Glenn! Well done.
I love this story. I could hear it a hundred times and never tire of it
Rap!
I hear your voice as magnificently as the Spartacus voice.
as i read this i kept hearing a johnny cash "i hear the train a comin"" kind of thing, and even thogh it crosses into a weird genre combination, but it sounded kind or cool in my head. really enjoyed this!
Glenn - very nice (voice and words). This line made me chuckle:
"he had to eat a lot of gruel."
because it sort of sounded like eating a lot of gruel was a punishment for something!
Yours,
David
What a moving ballad, Glenn! You took us back in time
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