The House of the Tragic Poet

On the Via di Nola, February 14

Cave canem, the threshold read.
A modest villa in Pompeii,
All living there that day are dead.

The house, preserved from time's decay
And heat of pyroclastic flow—
A modest villa in Pompeii,

Whose Poet knew love long ago,
Inspired by Lupercalia,
Love hot as pyroclastic flow.

But did he write erotica?
Whip lover with a goatskin thong
Inspired by Lupercalia,

So she'd be fertile, children strong?
(That festival, now Valentine's,
Struck women with thin goatskin thongs.)

Such different loves in different times:
All living there that day are dead,
The festival's now Valentine's.
Cave canem, the threshold read.



Survivor Poetry Contest
Bonus Round Challenge #1: Valentine's Day (Terzanelle)