Litanies to God, forgotten

Silent are the morning bells
The crisp, cool sleet of amber dawn
The empty streets of partridge red
Sad breaking, of fell curtain flown

Who toils here in empty place?
A laughter gaily flouting flit
A personage of death’s design
Above us now, and shedding light

No children mock this ribald thing
This grinning yellow smile
This empty city left forlorn
No soldiers came, no war repaid

What once filled harkens now
A black slate drawn once more
A blank field ash and tar remade
Like god’s own hand, descend in time

Men of cooled wing and steel
A passenger brought on high
A landing never made with ease
Pact sworn stood, it free to feast

Called by name young child
Its brother-followed fly
It like its predecessor fell
And left none, no more then root

Empty buildings echo still
Yellow skies to settle not
Yellow lights in silent flash
Litanies to god, forgotten