Sulla by Charles Bryant

SULLA

by Charles Bryant

First comes inclination, bias-curve,
the slightest swerve to abnormality
from customary straight and narrow,
after to be hailed as the elect.
No doubt we select what we become.
There he stood, the hallowed republic's child,
his manner mild; the inner man a beast,
one who would wrest full dictatorial power
illegally and for himself alone,
looking to climb a throne, a golden throne,
thirst unslaked, appetite unappeased.
He pleased himself in everything, withheld
no pleasure from his palate's tongue; no taste
was too outrageous which he craved; even
the depraved was not too far a step for him
to pace; the racy and the risky both appealed.

Such a very handsome, pleasant man,
melting the hearts of all he touched, stirring
the loins of any who observed him standing
in light of sun or evening's glimmer,
shimmer of godhead upon him, his eyes and lips
phantasmic, drawn from dream; limbs and looks
pure fire to set ablaze the dormant passion,
causing conflagration. He knew
- it was his art - to use the sex appeal
which was his gift from nature, from the gene.
Once seen, never forgotten: such he was.

Step mother and courtesan, two women had
bestowed on him their fortunes, love sick both
from his blond and curling hair, his deep blue eyes,
athlete's physique and general air of...what?
As if he'd command whole armies should he wish,
set in motion wheels to move the world.
Move it he did and with a loss of blood
unparalleled, through war, proscription, murder,
savagery unseen. Not a touch
of spleen through all this carnage; he kept on mildly
smiling to the end. Confiscation
followed, riches by him undreamt of in
his paupered youth mixed with Subura's dregs,
enamoured drag queens and the worst of drunks.
Till he emerged triumphant. Then retired.
Fortuna's child, the goddess's firm favourite,
he retired to his fine Campanian house,
left behind the army, politics,
and all the stir and platitude of power.

He became again the child that he had been,
put aside the purple and the pain,
rioting with very louche companions,
daylong debauches, nights of wine and song,
happy with informality and pleasure,
letting go of all he had attained
as if it had been nothing and he bored.
The following year he died and made an end.
His luck held out in death. At's funeral
wild winds whipped the fire to inferno,
immediately burnt him into ash.
His corpse consumed, the rain came belting down,
put out the fire, scattered the teeming crowd
drawn to the Campus Martius by his name.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• lucius
• cornelius
• sulla
• roman
• republic
• dictator
• charles
• bryant
• english
• contemporary
• verse
• spoken
• word
• performing
• arts

[zeppelin8]

After watching these videos, I find that whenever I read poetry, it's your voice that narrates it in my mind. What a flawless romaticism of the ancient times this has been.

[brychar66]

That is really the nicest compliment, thank you so much :)

[EROSGODOFGAYS]

"Such a very handsome, pleasant man, melting the hearts of all he touched, stirring the loins of any who observed him standing in light of sun or evening's glimmer, shimmer of godhead upon him.........."

I am in awe of you poet and sorcerer and never tire of your magic!

[brychar66]

You're rather sweet yourself big guy :)

[andrewnorris1]

Thanks for the information. I shall add these titles to my book list. Appreciate it.

[AmberEyedRose]

the first three books by Colleen McCullough in the Masters of Rome series, namely The First Man in Rome, The Grass Crown and Fortune's Favorites will leave you enamoured of Rome and utterly smitten by Sulla!

[brychar66]

I see him as the archetypal politician, Kestal. Just look at some of our British Members of Parliament as they are at this moment. An edifying spectacle? I'm afraid not. Good luck with the operation.

[Farflonger]

I just read Plutarch last semester! this poem does Sulla much justice! Imperium !! haha

[EROSGODOFGAYS]

this is a very interesting work, Chas. Different sections standout on repeated viewing, like different flavours tasted in a fabulous dessert when eaten slowly.

"His luck held out in death. At's funeral

wild winds whipped the fire to inferno,

immediately burnt him into ash."

That is just so "Chas Bryant"!

[andrewnorris1]

i always feel that reading one of your poems is a real education. I know nothing about these characters nor the Roman Republic but you manage to open the great, massive, heavy wooden door a little for me, thank you.

[PoetLina]

Such a complex and erudite poem, but I take away the little things - SPQR, reminding me of the drain covers in Rome today and Subura, no wonder I never wished to live in the outskirts of London. Brill 5*'s

[trisoctehedron]

Charles, it looks like I am going to have to gush this time!

I know Sulla's story from a novel by Colleen McCullough called "Fortune's Favorites".

I am delighted simply to hear one of my beloved old Roman characters referred to on YouTube.

In the second place, this is truly fine writing. I'm a critic by nature, and I can find absolutely nothing in this poem which I could hope to improve.