In the last day of Pompeii
Do you think some were thinking
As they dashed thither and yon
Seeking shelter from the boulders
Ash gases lava I could have bought
That property off Cerberus and XXIInd NE
With the little grove of olive trees
The beautiful marble portico
Far away from Vesuvius
No I wanted to be close up on the
Safe side of the mountain you
Couldn’t beat the price the view
Was magnificent black and
White checkered patio
Overlooking the Mediterranean blue
Stretching to the horizon close to good schools
A ramp at the beach for my boat
Some it is said embraced as they fell
Encased in ash dead from suffocation
Could they have said a last I love you
Unable to make a word perhaps they
Gripped each other tighter out of fear
Or devotion the last signal to the other
Before they expired how oft reenacted
The final fear that all of us face whether
Alone or with an entire civilization
What shall we be thinking in those last
Days hours minutes seconds some
Won’t have time to worry Tony Soprano
Didn’t even feel it some go in their sleep
If you are aware long enough to notice
And consider your options self wife family
God country mother the flag
Apple pie Rosebud sex the joke
You would tell at your funeral
Those closest to you able to read
Your stiff lips and laugh a vile
Offense to those quietly grieving
If you went down in flames did you
Think wow this hurts like hell
Or if you bled out on the street
Did you last till the cameras filled
Your shrinking circle of vision
WKBC Action News 7 your last
Perception while you have time
If you care for your loved ones at least
Make a list of your favorite hymns
For them to consider discard
For something they prefer
Don’t make a video to say things
You think you’ll want to say when
You’re dead when you’re actually
Dead you may change your mind
Want to say something totally different
Disavow your will leave it all
To the dog the pet sitter and some girl
You met on a bus
You might want to spoil it
Tell them it’s not bad at all
Or maybe it hurts like hell
Just to be funny
c. J.S.Manista, 2015
No comments:
Post a Comment