they said that i ought to be ready
conserve water for a rainy day
so i held my amphora steady
plunged the neck into the sauna bay

they said that i ought to be ready
conserve darkness for a blacker day
so i held my amphora steady
drew into the neck every bit of grey

they said that i ought to be ready
conserve the hours for a longer day
so i held my amphora steady
fed the neck final gasps of blood spray

what’s wetter, bleaker & more drawn out
than the death rattle of julius caesar
i’m really going to savour this
no one needs to crown another old geezer