Vibrations caused a shudder, then another and another
until the whole world seemed to quake in disarray
and the earth itself it muttered as the stone walls cracked and stuttered
and the pillers of the Temple set to sway

yea the waters spilled away
and I knew not what to say
for the anger of the mountain
spewed forth an incendiary fountain

some warning, yes, I uttered as all hope within me guttered
and I witnessed many moved to curse or prayer
as the pillars fell, nought mattered, save for those whose bodies, splattered
splintered, scarlet, bloodied, crushed beyond repair


Though the seawaves had retreated, Earth-Shaker, undefeated
had saved his best for last as we did fear
and the waves were then unseated, their retreat being completed
came roaring back, a well-cast hoplite spear

Yes, we knew the final fold, for the temple bells they tolled
and eldritch light, dust-filtered lit the day
for the mountain it grew bold and it spat out molten gold
and buried us who lived in great Pompei

Next: Great Pompei