After an inscription of Augustus
“All the Germans
of that territory
sought by envoys
my friendship
The far reaches
of what any Roman had ever seen
opened to me
the mouth
of the Rhine.the water
swallowing the gold-
colored hulls
What gods
would I find in the forests
in the riverbanks
scattered
with precious stones
I sailed my ships
on the sea.dark
and full of meaning
When
our sails first caught
the wind
of the Cimbriit was rough
as their language
I watched
their shirtless oarsmen
maneuvering
the oars
I watched the ships
running their fingers
through the water
of the Roman people”
from Poetry Northwest 08.2 Fall & Winter 2013-2014More by Richie Hofmann from the library
Copyright © Richie Hofmann
Used with the permission of the author
on behalf of Poetry Northwest.