Desert Rose, composed and performed by Sting, can be found on his cd Brand New Day.  It's a beautiful song whose lyrics inspired images of Maximus' journey and the anguish of loosing his family.   Using Isis' screen captures, I illustrated Desert Rose for the DreamWorks Fansite Gladiator Board combining Ridley Scott's incredible images with Sting's haunting lyrics.

~kaspi

I dream of rain

I dream of gardens in the desert sand

I wake in pain

I dream of love as time runs through my hand

I dream of fire

Those dreams are tied to a horse that will never tire

And in the flames Her shadows play in the shape of a man's desire

This desert rose Each of her veils, a secret promise

This desert flower No sweet perfume ever tortured me more than this

And as she turns This way she moves in the logic of all my dreams

This fire burns

I realize that nothing's as it seems

I dream of rain I dream of gardens in the desert sand

I wake in pain

I dream of love as time runs through my hand

I dream of rain I lift my gaze to empty skies above

I close my eyes, this rare perfume Is the sweet intoxication of her love

I dream of rain I dream of gardens in the desert sand

I wake in pain I dream of love as time runs through my hand

Sweet desert rose Each of her veils, a secret promise

This desert flower No sweet perfume ever tortured me more than this

Sweet desert rose This memory of Eden haunts us all

This desert flower, this rare perfume Is the sweet intoxication of the fall