One hungry lion's roar
echoes down this dark, domed tunnel.
The percussion of his paws
pounds through and out
into the amphitheater:
In Roman times.
I am
marveling
at excavated images
I've seen photographed,
but never touched till now.
Mosaics.
I'm struck by the simplicity,
the space between each tile;
breath that flows into patterns
of leaping creatures
and saints...
I stand consumed.
poem copyright ©2000 Anne Selden Annab
