Roman Holiday

An entertainment pleasure enjoyed with some dismay
is a sadistic measure:
the Roman Holiday.
Humans as lion cuisine once filled the stadium.
Beheadings by guillotine
keyed a mass medium.
Public hangings in the square gave many front row seats.
Brutal floggings anywhere
gave many quickened beats.
Legion martyrs burned at stake fed flames and eager eyes.
Amputations meant to break
offered little disguise.
The fans of barbarity acquired projective thrills.
In spite of atrocity
they indulged in the kills.
Boxing, hockey, football sports are sanctioned interplay.
Substitution now supports
the Roman Holiday.