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The Poetry of Alan Ireland...
PRIAPUS OF POMPEII
Eroticism in the ancient world
Poor Priapus regards his tool:
His most prodigious private part,
Made public in the vestibule
In travesties of civic art.
'Alas!' he cries, 'where can I find
A nymph to take my staff entire -
This rod in which there are entwined
Both lift and letdown of desire?'
While graceful Artemis ignores
The overtures of rustic lust,
His tension finds a metaphor
In smoldering Vesuvius.
Orgasmic it will be, that day,
When bowels of the earth convulse
And passion soars as bird of prey
To swoop and stop the racing pulse.
Alan Ireland
Historical note: In one of the great catastrophes of all time, Pompeii was buried by volcanic ash after an eruption of Mt Vesuvius on August 24, CE79. About 20,000 people were killed, but many buildings and frescoes, including erotic frescoes, were preserved.
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