Nineteen Hours

Frozen, etched forever.
It came like lightning
That leaves a tree scorched.
Dead in seconds.


Those I knew, once loved,
I see once more.
Preserved in time before...
Before the gods unleashed their wrath.


Neptune, Vulcan, took an oath,
From land to sea they'd battle.
A trident buried deep and hard
To shake Vulcan from his forge.


Flaming coals cast towards the sea,
To heat the water, bury land.
In revenge and fury, Vulcan
Showed his raging hand


Our lives were lived between two gods,
Vengeful enemies. We paid the price.
Apollo hid her face,
The sky by day turned into night.


Snow came in summer, grey and heavy.
But the heat took us.
No time to flee!
Only time to pray.


You see us now, as we were,
Alive, vibrant in work and play.
Until the gods fought over
Pompeii.