The New Pompeii

A poem about consumerism.

The New Pompeii

 

 

The dam of consumerism has exploded!

 

Rivers of silver and gold pours into wealthy cities all over the globe. It engulfs everything in its path. The river swamps the suburbs, it glides over the cars in front of homes, the shiny metallic substance works its way through the homes covering washing machines, televisions, computers, fridges, phones and a small boy playing on his game console.

 

The river of silver and gold runs into the city centre, it paints the buildings, roads, streets, shops, restaurants, supermarkets and people with a torrent of greed. It moves its way to the government buildings and drowns the politicians very slowly as it flows up from their polished shoes to their immaculate suits and finally the shiny liquid pours down their throats and into their lungs.

 

 

 Like molten lava it swims through the high street shops smashing the windows and covering its customers. A woman is trying on a new pair of high heels (she has over 100 pairs at home) a man is trying on a new suit while talking on his mobile phone about dinner arrangements for the evening.

 

No one is saved!

 

Once the damaged is done, everything is covered in silver and gold. The morning sun beams down on the sparkling roads and rooftops. Birds fly overhead, their feathers glisten form the brilliant light down below. Cats and dogs run through the cold metallic streets, trees, plants and the rest of nature survive the rivers.

 

Everywhere is silent, no noise from the human race,

 

The money has stopped being spent!

 ©LukeRitta

Reviews

[Writingfox]

Wonderful read. I have always enjoyed your descriptions and I dare say you have improved even more. I also really like your theme and idea, it is quite frightening to see the parallels between seemingly ancient history and our society today. My only suggestion is to clean up and deepen "...A woman is trying on a new pair of high heels (she has over 100 pairs at home) a man is trying on a new suit while talking on his mobile phone about dinner arrangements for the evening." Take it and run with it, I know you can dive into it even more!

[LadyNaida]

Wow!

[Amila Jay]

indeed a great poem :))

[Danielle Searby]

Brilliant!

[Allie]

Ha, brilliant! So original and crafty. The end of human race would be such great news to the rest of earth and animals.

[Cassie Fraga]

wow the imagery you use to express our times is AMAZING!!!
**write... write on**

[Nath]

Wow, this was amazing!
I love the way you tell the story of the slow destruction of civilization comparing it to natural disaster of dimensions like the eruption of Pompeii.
Where the "lava" flows, the reader "flows" along, following it and the plot, it really draws you in.
Thank you for sharing.

[Brad]

nice bit of prose! a very appropriate statement of our times

[SuicidePact.]

fantastic imagery~!

[Leslie Philibert]

Enjoyed this poem a lot, not only well written, but based on very noble emotions,a good piece of political writing, acutely observed social critic with a kind of beat poetry feeling, good work.