This poem is inspired by the events at the site of the Roman Theatre at Palmyra. This a Roman theatre in ancient Palmyra in the Syrian desert. It was in this ancient place, that ISIS, or ISIL, Islamic Sate of Iraq and the Levant, seized the Palmyra site, in May 2015. In July it presented hideous video footage to the wider world, showing members of it’s terrorist organisation, lining up 25 adult male captives dressed in dark fatigues, knelt in front of them on the Palmyra theatre stage.The ISIS members then executed all 25 captives , they were each, at the same time, shot in the head.
In poignant words, from someone effected, Mamoun Abdulkarim, Director of the Syrian Government agency for antiquities and museums stated “Using the Roman theatre to execute people proves that these people are against humanity.”
In December 2016 ISIL destroyed the facade of the theatre.
THEATRE OF PALMYRA
By Lorenzo Cherin
Theatre of blood
Theatre of war
Theatre of mud
Theatre of yore
Theatre of absurd
Theatre of scholars
Theatre of unheard
Theatre of horrors
Theatre of cruelty
Theatre of civility
Theatre of foolery
Theatre of futility
Theatre of classics
Theatre of classicists
Theatre of fanatics
Theatre of fascists
Theatre of Nero’s
Theatre of knaves
Theatre of heroes
Theatre of slaves
Theatre of Caligula
Theatre of the mind
Theatre of Palmyra
Theatre of its kind
Theatre of Roman
Theatre of Romance
Theatre of no man
Theatreland, no man’s
Theatre of poets
Theatre of plays
Theatre of no, it’s
No theatre these days
Theatre of here
Theatre of how?
Theatre of near
Theatre? Not now
Theatre of blood
Theatre of war
Theatre of mud
Theatre, no more!
