"The Centurion's Lot"

By Anthony Roberts

To carry a sword, shield, and spear
to fight
for a Republic
then an Empire

To gather around a fire each night
far from those in whose name you fight

Winning submission
but submitting your will
your hopes, dreams, desires
your daughters become women
your sons struggle to be men
both without your hand on their shoulder
your hands are too calloused to touch them anyway
you only cause them pain

Your reward
is a grave in place not your own
and the hope that another sword will carry your
memory
because what you are
is politics by other means

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This poem is from The Clearing Barrel by Anthony Roberts, published by Blue Jade Press.

Anthony Roberts is a veteran of Baltimore and Afghanistan. He currently lives in New Jersey in a home with beautiful views and interlocking fields of fire.

Listen to our Savage Wonder episode with him here.

He is the author of the Pushcart Prize-nominated Pigtown and The Clearing Barrel.

You can follow him here.

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Saturday May 24th: 7PM, The Bald Soprano by Eugene Ionesco.

May 30th, 31st and June 1st: Comedy Weekend with Linette Palladino.

June 5th: 7PM Rich Johnson’s Ignite a Noise.