18th and Arch Sts

Pillars of glass
Stretch their steel fingers
Coldly towards heaven
A forest of Babel
Lit at night
Like earthbound constellations
Fallen stars, fallen angels
Confined to earth by their greed.

Squat masonry sits
Quiet and gated
The stain glass dim
And dome oxidized green
Only two stories high
In tired brownstone and marble
Silent, earthbound Adam
Prays nervous to his God.

5/4/99

Mary Jones © 2004