I am Spartacus ..,

I was in the gym when I heard that Kirk Douglas had died -

There was his face, on the telly screen above the cross trainers -

Those fierce eyes -

That gladiator's chin -


Spartacus had been part of my growing up -

Queuing up for tickets in The Ritz -

Wide eyed, watching the scary sword play -

Later, playing gladiators with sticks -


Then, years layer, in a midnight bar with Richard -

First one, then the other, over the Jamesons -

I am Spartacus -

I am Spartacus -



Friday 7 February 2020


Purbeck Sports Centre
Wareham
Dorset