Seven Hills

They built their town on verdant plains
with rolling slopes and rough terrain
They raised high walls around these hills
the walls are old yet stand there still

They loved their hills and named them well
the first one they called 'Shadowfell'
for there the mountain's shadow lay
when first their fathers came that way

The second they called 'Watcher's Height'
for those who count stars in the night
The third was named 'The Driest Peak',
a refuge from the flooding creek

The fourth and fifth were 'Night' and 'Day'
unlike they were in ev'ry way
The sixth and last was 'Vultures' Nest'
for there they lay their dead to rest

Around these hills their village sprawled
until it should be 'city' called
But though their wealth and power grew
one small thing marred contentment true

"Great Rome is built on seven hills,"
the God-birds sang in winsome trills;
"A six-hill town is not quite right
unless it gains just one more height."

The townsfolk then felt great despair
for one more hill just wasn't there
There WAS a rise off to the east
but that way dwelled the Fearsome Beast

They eyed that hill for many years
'til avarice threw down their fears
A seventh hill would ease their cares
A host marched forth to make it theirs

They met the Beast on bloody field
and many died but none would yield
until, at last, a mortal blow
was paid to Beast and laid him low

But though the foe was now deceased
a final curse pronounced the Beast:
the townsfolks' wish would now come true
but not the way they'd want it to

And so returned the troubled host
to find the thing they feared the most:
the rough Beast's curse had come to fall
upon the town that housed them all

The city had its seventh mount,
a cone be-topped with glowing fount
from which a flood of lava spills
to char and drown its brother hills

They raised high walls around these hills
the walls are old yet stand there still
But they are all that yet remains
Of seven hills with six hill names.

[Inspired by crisper]