We weep in Babylon

We weep in Babylon

   by the river

we weep in the city

   of demons, the haunt

   of demons, the fount

   of drunkenness, the wine

   that maddens, the place

   of the kings, the fatted calf

   of the merchants

A voice calls the few

to come out

to come out

from the haunt

the fount, the place,

the wine, the place,

while the kings

and the merchants

of Babylon weep

with broken souls,

weep, by the river

of Babylon.

Painting: oil on canvas by E. Thor Carlson