At first I went to market

telling all of strange new smell

Then I went to forum

when the earth shook like a bell

But wiser heads than mine looked

to the experts, and they say

that not a thing would happen

to the shores of fair Pompeii

So I picked up a charcoal

and on the walls began to write

of silly jokes for busy folks

passing morning, day and night

The people smile and chuckle

at the decorated wall

At least they can keep smiling

as the summer changed to fall

Never tremble at tomorrow

“Bottoms up”, and “Seize the day”

Don’t seek for ships, keep scrawling

on the walls of fair Pompeii