Pompeii andHerculaneum
were cities once,
and proud
before Vesuvius,
on which they stood,
blew to the sky,
then dropped
its scalding rain,
without warning.
Vestiges of buildings,
walls, and doors
and floors,
and art abounds,
but silence surrounds
the former streets,
and death surrounds
the former men.
There was beautyin those streets
produced by artisans
who'll never more
mosaic a floor
or kiss a wife
or child.
Kay L. Davies, 2013
Posted for the first day of April, 2013, the first day of our own NaPoWriMo which will, of course, continue to the end of the month, or until all the poets run out of ideas, ink, and energy here at the Imaginary Garden with Real Toads.
You have summed up the tragic sadness of Pompeii beautifully xxx
ReplyDeleteloved this one...an ode to many of the unsung artists!
ReplyDeleteAmazing isn't it ? I have never been there it's a real shame ! Since my first love (an Italian too) in 1964 till today I have seen Italy from top to bottom except two things : Rome and Pompeii ! I always thought I go there later !
ReplyDeleteGood thing is that those ruins don't have the bad habit of lamenting like us... isn't so?
ReplyDeletenice captures Kay!
Cheers :-)
We have many of the treasures on display in the UK at the moment, so a timely post.
ReplyDeletePompeii must be a very haunted place - the ready evidence of the destruction continues to impress upon our psyches thousands of years after the event.
ReplyDeleteI have been to Pompeii and to Herculaneum. Both very beautiful places, albeit with a sad history.
ReplyDeleteOh these are beautiful. I envy you the memories of this trip. [Well, maybe not all :-). Did you get some help from the police and insurance?]
ReplyDeleteHope we all make it to the end of the month together.
Interesting to see those places Kay ~ Thanks for taking us along in your travels ~
ReplyDeleteApril is here!
ReplyDeleteCheers from Cottage Country!
Very descriptive of your impressions, Kay.
ReplyDeleteLike the Little Mouse who visited the Queen, what did I see?
Take a peek:
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_aOZEGRAw2Q8/S4ik3h6h_7I/AAAAAAAAG6E/Pz5M9zaNOuc/s800-h/100_1024.JPG . The crowds didn't bother him or her one bit.
..
A stark reminder of how fleeting life can be and how quickly things change. What remains there catches that as does your poem.
ReplyDeleteWe never know what life will bring. You have so aptly described the horror and loss of Pompeii.
ReplyDeleteSuch fantastic ruins, captured so well in the photos. It must be amazing to walk there. Love your poem and title.
ReplyDeleteWow! I'm speechless!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful!
Hope you had a wonderful Easter!
Hugs,
Debbie
yes, art that's no more. do you know the song "This Was Pompeii" by Dar Williams? you might enjoy. let's go, one down, twenty-nine to go! :)
ReplyDeleteSad and lovely...
ReplyDeleteAnd you were there! How cool! Lovely and profound sentiments here Kay.
ReplyDeleteSuch beauty in those ruins. Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteKay, you showed the true beauty of Pompeii. It's sad to think that there was a time when true artisans could make a living, support a family. That one man frozen in place; was he a victim? Scary.
ReplyDeleteThank you for putting words and pictures to an historic site. Peace, Amy