Which Roman emperor inaugurated
that almost universal human gesture ?
(Perhaps to keep the volatile crowd placated
with their favourite defeated lest their
anger led to riots on the street)

His name would be remembered ever after
more fittingly than fiddling while Rome burned
or making his horse a senator with laughter
at dull conventionality so spurned
or any other weird imperial feats.

He never could have thought it credible
that such a simple gesture now outlives
his mighty empire and makes possible
communication across language boundaries
with a Thumbs Up to the stranger that we meet.