After

When the towers fell
a conundrum eased;
Shall these inherit the earth
from eternity,
all debts amortised? Gravity was ungracious,
a lateral blow
abetted, made an end.

They fell like Lucifer,
star of morning, our star
attraction, our access.

Nonetheless, a conundrum;
Did God approve, did they prosper us?

The towers fell, money
amortised in pockets of the fallen, once for all.

Why did they fall, what law
violated? Did Mammon
mortise the money
that raised them high, Mammon
anchoring the towers in cloud,
highbrow neighbors
of gated heaven and God?
"Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great . . .
they see the smoke
arise as she burns . . ."

We made pilgrimage there.
Confusion of tongues.
Some cried vengeance.
Others paced slow, pondering
—this or that of humans
drawn forth, dismembered—

a last day; Babylon
remembered.