Babel’s Sunken Spire

The Tower of Babel, by the school of Tobias Verhaecht, ca. 1585–1600. Source: Wikimedia Commons

Ascending empires

Crowned with lauded laurel,

Drunk with hegemony’s desire

Cloak ambition as pious moral,

Seeking to eclipse

Babel’s sunken spire.

Yet History’s replete

With chronicles of Hubris’ fate,

When princely Caesars conflate

Wanton will with Heavenly mandate.

Cease to trust in magistrates —

Whited tombs which conceal

Hell spawned hate with saving zeal.

Cleave instead to ancient Rule,

Splitting gluttonous Leviathan in two:

“Do unto others

As you would have done unto you.”

© Conor MacCormack, 2019