The Founding

The Founding

​Upon the banks of Tiber's stream,
A tale of yore doth brightly gleam,
Of she-wolf fierce and infant's cry,
And Rome's bold birth beneath the sky.

In days of Alba Longa's reign,
A king, Numitor, held the chain,
Yet brother Amulius, wreathed in woe,
Dethroned the king with treacherous blow.

Numitor's daughter, Rhea fair,
Was forced into the traitor's lair,
A Vestal Virgin she became,
To quench the fires of his shame.

But Mars, the god of war and might,
Saw Rhea's beauty shining bright,
Their union blessed by love's embrace,
Gave birth to twins in secret place.

Amulius, fearing fortune's turn,
Cast babes adrift, his heart to spurn,
Their cradle floating on the tide,
To Tiber's will their lives were tied.

A she-wolf, fierce with eyes of flame,
Unto the crying babes then came,
With tender heart and nurturing breast,
She raised them in her savage nest.

Upon that fateful river's shore,
The twins Romulus and Remus bore,
Their destiny entwined with Rome,
From she-wolf's care to build a home.

In time, the brothers, strong and wise,
Grew tall beneath the watchful eyes,
Of Faustulus, a shepherd kind,
Who taught them ways of human mind.

The brothers bold, with hearts aflame,
Sought to avenge their grandsire's name,
With Amulius dethroned and slain,
Numitor's crown was won again.

Yet strife and envy oft do brew,
As brothers dreamed of cities new,
Auspicious signs marked heaven's dome,
To guide the founding of their Rome.

Upon Palatine Hill did stand,
Romulus, tracing lines in sand,
Whilst Remus mocked his brother's claim,
And scorned the walls that rose in shame.

Enraged, Romulus struck him low,
His brother's blood did freely flow,
Remus fell upon the earth,
As Rome emerged in painful birth.

And thus, Romulus built his Rome,
A city bound to be his home,
Its walls and towers reached the skies,
As he ascended, godly prize.

From she-wolf's care and brother's strife,
Arose a city strong in life,
So stands eternal Rome today,
A testament to destiny's play.

Image created by DALL-E