Alas, Babylon
(John Raymond Pollard)
2004-09-13



The caravan breaks camp at dawn.
Camels groan
merchants move on
a cord of color cuts across the sand
to market in an ancient land.

Gardens flower; temples tower greeting dawn in Babylon.
Gardens flower; temples tower; there is song in Babylon.

The market buzzes all day long
the harried housewife hurries on
through cheers and curses, a cacophony of tongues
bargains end and day is done.

The desert night, a thousand tales,
a million stars, and seven veils
the incense spreads to towers high above
where worshipers make love

Gardens flower; temples tower, greeting dawn in Babylon.
Gardens flower; temples tower; there is song in Babylon.

Stars are the gem stones of the night
the bull horn moon moves into sight.
The storyteller stops a thousand tales
to watch the dance of seven veils.

The desert night, a thousand tales,
a million stars, and seven veils
The rivers murmur, “Alas, Babylon,
Your innocence is gone.”

People cower; rockets shower tons of bombs on Babylon.
Toppled towers hide the flowers hear the guns in Babylon

The TV spotlight, sirens wail,
a million mine fields, flesh impaled
By rulers murdered. Alas, Babylon,
your innocence is gone.

Gardens flowered; temples towered; there was song in Babylon.