I didn’t know Homer

when I first met Vergil

Our meeting was arch, mis-

     placed cartfuls

          (fraternal walls

          Hannibal’s herds 

          salt-strewn cities 

          Cleopatra’s asp 

          murderous Ides 

          an august son)

well before the horse.

Duty I recognized

but had yet to

                     acquire

that shimmering selfish

                     Achaean