literature

The Soothsayer's Lament

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Chaosfive-55's avatar
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Literature Text

Imperious Caesar, don't go there--
The Ides of March are come! Beware!
He does not heed me; there he goes,
Surrounded by a score of foes...

Men do not listen, Cassandra dear--
Unpleasant truths they will not hear;
Their own ambitions tempt them down
Unto their doom, so let them drown!

Hubris swallows all the great--
From Nero's lust to Hitler's hate
All tyrants fall from godlike height
So despair not; it serves them right.

Even good men we cannot save,
Lincoln went to his untimely grave
Despite his warning dream, alas!
Sometimes, Tragedy must come to pass.

Why are we cursed with the sight
If no one will believe we're right?
Methinks the gods care not at all,
But watch with laughter as we fall.

As poor Cassandra could tell you, there seems little point in seeing into the future if nobody believes you until it's too late...
© 2010 - 2024 Chaosfive-55
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snicker1's avatar
enjoyable poem, and quite contemporary, too!