Saturday Poem: 'What Ronnie James Owes Attila The Hun: 421 A.D.'*
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Ronnie James Dio, 1942-2010
He may be a teenage hostage, exchanged in battle
with a son of Rome, but the young Scourge of God
isn't going to let that get in the way of a little fun.
Life in the Court of Honorius is gravy compared to
the Steepe, and he can't believe his luck;
a room above the courtyard he's painted black
and as much drink as he can knock back.
He's got an image to maintain, so doesn't let on
that it makes him sick. He needs to keep his wits about him --
doesn't want his friends to know he can't hold his liquor.
Besides, what would the girls think? At night, he dreams of
the lady he'll one day make his wife. Tomorrow
it's the Sabbath, so he'll compose a little something
to scare the living daylights out of the Emperor with.
He practices in front of the mirror to get the effect just right:
mouthing "I'm the last in line" while giving the Evil Eye
with both hands at the same time, a gesture he's picked up
from the old women who mutter "Flagellum Dei"
behind his back while shaking their heads.
It's a nickname he thinks he can live up to,
but it's hard to spell, so he signs himself "Dio" instead.
- Micki Myers
* Ronnie James Dio, singer for the bands Dio, Rainbow and Black Sabbath, is credited with introducing the "Evil Eye" hand gesture to heavy metal -- something he says he picked up from his Italian grandmother. "The Last In Line" is one of Dio's biggest hits.
Attila, last of the Huns, who came to be known as Flagellum Dei ("Scourge of God") was traded as a hostage to the Roman Emperor as a youth. It is possible he died of complications from alcohol poisoning the night after his wedding feast.
First Published May 22, 2010 12:00 am
