Rome

I can still those nights

The stars were falling and rocks of my chest softened to become a pillow for you to rest your head

You talked of great things

Grand cities torn to the ground and  glories of the conquest

You traced the patterns on my skin

Searing on it a map of eminence set on the past that no longer exists swallowed up by floods and fire lost in rust and gold

The tale of that time when you set your house on fire came up and your face lit with a strange smile

That smile was sharp and your lips of acid drew back to reveal the teeth of a wolf who raised your ancestors

It turned into a frown as you spoke of mountains spewing lava

Then nostalgia as you counted your victories and fallen soldiers

You asked me to not love you but worship you like one of your gods

To burn and slaughter animals to your name and raise my goblet full of their blood

Trapped in a possessive embrace, every touch left bruises and your grip left my bones mellow

You looked at me as if trying to set a measure

Then turned at the stars and started counting them instead until you got over a thousand and pinned them down on a paper

You had that odd facination with setting everything on scale as if trying to balance the odds that were always against you

Between your fingers you always findled with a single golden coin with your face on it graced with laurels, a token like everything else

I always wondered how much I was worth to you and if my value ever wavered

I asked you once and you got angry

Just a little over five libras you said

I still wonder what you ment by it

Every leaf on the surrounding trees was flailing in synchronised psythir to the winds temperaments

And I can't help but recall all those mornings I woke up to the hissing of snakes on my bedpost crawling up my bare back before realising it was you

You spoke only of selfish greatness and then nothing more

I didn't say anything more either

As if there was that silent agreement to not break the stillness that loomed

Our entire relationship was always set on one sided inclinations

Your grip on my wast tightened pinning me to the musky ground

The stars were still falling and I was left wondering if I could ever get back up

I was laying on the ground and behind your eyes flashed  the fall of a great empire