Nuntius Californiensis Spring 2017 Nuntius Californiensis-1 | Página 6

Volume XII, Issue 4
Paranoia
6
Nuntius Californiensis, Spring
(continued from pg. 3)
You flee every scene
on a vehicle fueled by thinly disguised self-loathing
until you find shelter:
until you find yourself in a labyrinth of glass,
woven from your impenetrable fear of being alone,
Alone.
What’s for Dinner?—
Roman Edition
Cybele Zhang, Archer School for Girls
W
hen most people think of food and
Rome, what logically comes to mind is
probably pizza, pasta or gelato—but ancient
Roman food was pretty different than modern
Because one day, the voice told you “Why bother?”
and you believed it, because you believed all of it,
Italian fare. Here are a few of the wildest dishes
and because you thought a life lost in Asphodel that ancient Romans enjoyed:
1. Flamingo
would be better than a life in Tartarus Like chicken, but larger? This delicacy was quite
Because choosing to be alone is better than being left
alone.
Because fear was stronger than love and light and joy.
the treat for Romans. The birds were expensive, so
only wealthy families could afford to serve the
dish. For extra excitement, the tongue was
believed to be especially tasty. Wealthy
And now you’re here. Alone.
Romans also enjoyed exotic birds such as
Do you hear it? Outside? peacocks, parrots and ostriches.
There are people calling your name, 2. Garum
and only now does it hit you Everyone enjoys their favorite condiment!
that for every lie there’s a believer.
Modern Americans would choose ketchup,
Ancient Garum Jars
You weren’t alone, but now you are. mustard, or relish, but chances are that a Roman
You’ve built this castle too high to go back down now. would
You’re alone. fermented sauce made of fish intestines, blood,
have
preferred
garum,
a
popular
and spices. Pliny the Elder described the sauce as
Note from the Poet: I know this might seem dark, and “prepared from the intestines of fish and various
maybe it doesn’t ring with many of you, but if there parts which would otherwise be thrown away,
are any of you who are struggling through these macerated in salt; so that it is, in fact, the result of
feelings like I am, I want you to know that the future their putrefaction.” Another similar sauce was
isn’t dark at all, that you’re not alone, and most of all liquamen, also made of fish. These sauces were
don’t give in. Hint: The poem is written through the rarely made in Rome, but rather were imported
voice of The Voice, and it isn’t done lying. from Spain and North Africa in amphorae.
(continued on pg. 10)