Poetry Magazines - The best collection of poetry magazines online - Simon Armitage

IV

Today                  the Palatine is in ruins
                           On these humid and uneven sites
                                 he had his palace built:
                            a great rectangle with narrow sides
                            a sky goddess
                            an enclosed orchard

             Genealogical tree and portrait gallery
                             (conquering Roman cavalrymen
                              and Barbarian prisoners)
According to historians and poets
                            there was also
                            the terracotta model
                            for the equestrian statue
                            etc

             In the centre
                       the octagonal space planted with flowers
                       was probably a basin
                              serving as a reservoir
                              or perhaps a fish-pond

Then
              the library was reconstructed
              (beautiful trompe l'oeil effect)

                    He composed some black figures on a white background
                    small illustrated panels
                    dedicated to Juno, Janus and to Hope

At nightfall
                    dressing down customs
                    criticising politics
                    sometimes slandering
                    seized by a "slight fever"
                         he accomplished various tasks
                         out in the open

On summer evenings
                               "African"
                                he knelt
                                surrounded by allegories
                                    a series of bas-reliefs
                                    scrolled in a spiral
                                    the dolorous David
                                    exhibiting Goliath's head
                                    some models of warships
                                    with oarsmen

              This boat deliberately sunk was far too much

                      From quarrels to streetbrawls
                      he had to flee the city in 1605

               The abyss closed over and a small lake remained

The hero
                adorned with lionskin
                contemptuous
                         is half-reclining on the steps

                 Two riders are represented standing
                 beside their horses
                 in more human attitude