Oh, Remus

Poem by Rumi Petersen

Oh Romulus, I would have handed it to you
If you’d only asked
Oh Romulus, it appears you never knew me at all.
I was always going to name our city Rome

Oh Romulus, do you remember building it?
The white marble looked so beautiful
With Jupiter shining above

Dear Romulus, when we chased each other as children
I never once felt afraid
Oh Romulus, you must have felt such fear
To slay me so

Oh Romulus, if you had but shivered,
I would have skinned myself
To make a coat for your shoulders

Oh Romulus, did it mean nothing?
All those years spent nestled against our wolf-mother’s breast?
Were the fangs you grew always meant to tear me apart?

My Dear Brother Romulus, I’m afraid
I’ve begun to hate you

Oh Romulus, I know I shouldn’t rage
Against my own flesh and blood
But, Dear Romulus, I must remind you:
Our kinship didn’t keep you
From spilling mine

Oh Romulus, we should have stayed in the forest

Romulus, My Brother, My Bane,
I would tear down Rome
If it meant burying you beneath it