Carl--
I really, really like this poem. One reason is that I just learned what a "ghazal" is, so thanks to you (and Glenn) for that. But I also just love how it's tying together a lot of little bits and pieces about Babylon that I had picked up in either biblical or historical studies but never seen all in one place before. Certainly, Babylon has that strong odor of ill-fate and dissolution about it, but by writing about all the sources of that sense in this quick succession you've clarified it for me.
I think the metrics and rhyming work brilliantly. I also like Glenn's idea of working in the modern reference to Mosul and Fallujah (somehow).
The one sher where I couldn't understand the reference was "In latter days, men stand astride the world and scale the skies no more in Babylon." I get that "scale the skies" references the tower of Babel again, but I'm not sure what is meant by "stand astride the world". Perhaps that the men of modern Iraq concern themselves more with political issues than with challenging heaven or building great works? Anyway, you lost me a bit on that one.
But, overall, this is really cool. Thanks!
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