Only half burned,
they threw his charred body
into the shallow grave,
quickly covering over --
shovel after shovel --
the loose, dry gravel
this arid land had to spare
as even the most superficial
of depressions
needed to be first hacked
with picks and scraped away.
clouds of dust
so profound as to require
the use of bandanas
for respirators.
One could see men hacking,
then walking away,
coughing, brushing the dust
from their hair.
beating their clothes,
pulling off their bandanas,
gulping air,
like fish on land...
now returning to the dig
while others brake off,
shake and brush themselves,
and cough.
the polished bronze and copper,
the emblem,
sword and scaboard,
studded leather,
stone faces.
stout figures.
beacons of the sun.
three gold coins.
one for each.
Caesar is feeling generous today
