Romulus And Remus - Story Book

What floats toward a kingdom on the flooded Tiber before dawn?

A basket carried Romulus and Remus while reeds scraped the sides like fingers.

The river pushed them to a cave mouth, and the crying suddenly stopped.

In that hush, a she-wolf stepped from the rocks with white breath and watchful eyes.

She lowered her head, and Romulus and Remus reached for her instead of the dark.

At first light, Faustulus found them with milk shining on their mouths.

Years passed in dust and sun, and Faustulus watched the brothers grow strong and fearless.

Then the buried truth surfaced, and Romulus and Remus learned they were heirs to a stolen throne.

They brought Amulius down and gave their grandfather back the throne.

With that wrong ended, the brothers climbed the hills and pictured a city of their own.

Romulus chose the Palatine, while Remus stood on the Aventine with his jaw tight.

A low wall rose between them, stone by stone, until even the wind felt sharp.

On that line, Remus leaped the wall in scorn, and Romulus answered with terrible speed.

When the dust settled, one brother lay still, and the other stared at hands that would not unclench.

The Tiber kept moving, and on the hill one name became Rome.