The pillars rose bounding high
a wash of green walls stood by
And ghosts swirled about my head--
Wailing people now long dead.

The caress of day streamed through
stained glass windows with orange hue
but couldn't reach the grand heights
of stone that bore ancient fights

Would its architects now wince--
or could the city convince:
Capture between vernal walls
celebrates rises not falls

That diminished it is not
Honored are the battles fought
That waged beneath this pillar
Though such is familiar

Its not that old feats are small
But you've seen one, you've seen them all
Stride the planet and you will find
The Romans built them all the time

It's not us who hurt their brand
It's they who covered the land
with structures now a scenic view:
You expect a shrug or two!

  -- Ellen A. Wilkin