Two Ravens 026

night shrouds now the golden city
sand is drifting past the walls
great decay and greater pity
as the glory fades and falls

where the mighty overarching
where the princes of the realm
now no throngs of soldiers marching
where the jackals overwhelm

crumbling are the ancient towers
lanterns dim and fountains fail
no bells have alarmed the hours
since the ending of her tale

in the sand her monarch's statue
ozymandias king of kings
stretched out, broken, like her virtue
fallen at the end of things