A Tour of Pompeii's Red Light District

A stone bed complete
with stone pillow

in an office the size
of an outhouse.

Along the top
edge of hall

(where a wall-
paper border

might go) is porn so old
we feel safe

saying "art"
and smiling.

Some men took time
to etch their praise

or customer
service complaint:

Flora gives good head!
Octavia has the clap!

No poems here,
it seems—

this blunt graffiti
all that's left.

No bodies either, now,
just ghastly casts

in vast museums, or
for those who hear

through time and ash:
ghostly gasps.



(in Salamander Winter 2011/2012)