In Rome, the lares and penates
were considered the small gods,
the gods of the home and hearth,
geniuses of broom and comfort.
Each in their place, each
in your place. Now the whole world

is Rome without spirit or sylph
and the lares and penates
are considered the small goods,
just household possessions.
The broom sits dull without a soul.
But make no mistake: all gods return.

In echo, in history’s rhyme,
all gods return. On top of the tower
of the grandfather clock, we tally
your insults and wait for our time.