Dog walkers dawdle along hedges
that hem the foundations in.
A land owning merchant resided here,

entertained contacts and customers
who soaked in the caldarium
and frisked in the frigidarium,

slaves back and forth carried demands.
Wine must not be spilled on mosaics:
slaves are easily sold and replaced.

A family in a conquered land
with only Boudicca to complain.
The woman of the house commissioned a brooch

worth a commoner’s salary with coins
stamped Vespasian and Valentinian.
A dunnock jump-pecks under hedges

near a flock of daffodils, and a dog off a lead
chases a homeless seagull
round the reflecting pool.

An express slithers behind with a blurt,
dog walkers consult phones.
Deals done for perfume, linen,

images of gods, transport arranged,
presents given, hands shaken
in the distant echo of empire.