Classic Poem

I

Watchman, what of the night? Watchman! Watchman!
What of the night?
Babylon is fallen, is fallen
That mighty city,
Great Babylon is fallen!

An hundred gates of brass hath Babylon,
Proud Babylon,
All as big as lesser cities,
They are not fallen?
The brazen gates are fallen!

With sun and moon her god of gold is crowned,
Foolish Watchman!
The golden God of Babylon
Upholds the heavens;
Bêl hath not fallen?

Yea, Bêl, her god of gold, he too is fallen,
Fallen, fallen!
All the gods of Babylon,
Or gold, or silver,
Brass or iron, are fallen!

Her Seven Magnificent Deities will raise them
Israelite!
Bêl-Merodach great son of Ea,
Lord of the Abysm,
Will set them higher!

Nay! For the God of Israel is stronger
Babylonian!
Your gods about your city run
For the last time, —
— In molten rivers!

Accursed be the God of Israel!
Accursed be I,
That with an Israelite have lain,
I who was priestess
Of glorious Ishtar!

I will arise and go to Babylon,
Dear Babylon,
I will return again to her,
My Babylon,
Though she be falling!

You speak as one whom Beelzebub hath smitten,
Heathen woman!
Her flowers are smoke along the heavens,
Her breath is fire,
Her glory ashes!

That were a funeral-pyre a god might envy!
I am mortal,
Yet with Babylon I'll burn:
Let me pass!
I go to Babylon!

See you that monstrous, vasty shape vermilion
O'er Imgur-Bêl?
'Tis the damned scarlet soul
Of Babylon,
The red whore Babylon!

Stand back! For I will pass! What better ending
For one a harlot,
Born of the harlot Babylon,
Than there to die,
With my sweet mother Babylon!

Guard! Seize her! She hath escaped! The Babylonian!
Bring torches!
No need. The torch of Babylon
Makes day of night,
Let her perish with Babylon!

Watchman, what of the night? Watchman! Watchman!
What of the night?
The burning sorceress Babylon
To day hath turned it.
Great Babylon is fallen,
And burning, burning!
Is fallen, is fallen and burning!