U. Calderone: ‘Mercury’

Mercury

The wise, ancient Romans
Running in life’s hard marathon,
Had few illusions
About gods or men.
Perceptively they set up a temple
For the brilliant, winged-god Mercury,
As a divinity for thieves,
And such chicanery.
It seemed fair, realising
That so-called normal and respectable
People, given half a chance,
Might happily deceive,
And hoping not to be caught,
Might swiftly and quietly thieve.

U. Calderone