In the time of the Caesars
The Emperors played god-
although some of them were
most exceedingly odd.

The man on the street,
was dependent, for bread,
on the grain dole that started
ere Julius was dead.

The unemployment problem
in Rome was severe
- at recessionary levels
for year after year.

How to keep happy
those unemployed masses?
Put on a circus
and give all free passes.

There were Lions and Tigers
and men with black faces.
Gladiators were drafted
from men of all races.

Roman blood lust was sated
with violence and wine
and all went home content-
having had a good time.

That which made Rome great
by then was a memory .
But, thought too big to fail,
Rome didn't lack for an enemy.

There's a lesson for us
in that circus and wine.
Empires fall
and its just about time.