[Carl Copeland]

Babylon

Your glories fade to horror, Babylon,
from Babel to the Whore of Babylon.

You scraped the sky till God confounded tongues,
lest aspirations soar in Babylon.

The light of Hammurabi, eye for eye,
was blinding in your morning, Babylon.

Your gardens cheered a homesick queen, and by
your waters, there was mourning, Babylon.

In riverbeds beneath your breachless walls,
crept Cyrus with no warning, Babylon.

Sikandar lost no battles, but at home
he lost his lifelong war in Babylon.

In latter days, men stand astride the world
and scale the skies no more in Babylon.

Nebuchadnezzar’s “son” thought he could work
your wonders by restoring Babylon.

He followed you to ruin, down the way
of Sodom and Gomorrah, Babylon.

Borne on a scarlet, seven-headed beast,
you glory in your horror, Babylon.


Edits
S5L1: mighty > breachless