People don't say: All roads
lead to Rome much anymore—
not because the import
or accuracy is moot,
but because Rome
no longer means
just one thing to everyone.
Right now, it's more popular
to declare: Love is love—
but I don't think that one's
exactly true either.
I've been there, and believe me
I tried to do as the Romans do.
I stripped nude and called out to you
from the dark Romanesque shadows
cast by that word,
but I felt stupid, which made you
feel ugly and vulnerable. I swear
I tried so hard to love you
every way I could think to;
I explored every avenue,
tested every alternate route.
But it was no use,
when I tried to explain
these strange new directions—
they didn't make any sense to you.
