A far off rumble, like a premonition,
Disturbs the quiet urban biosphere.
Soon, flashing, scattered thunderstorms appear,
Depositing an icy ammunition.
A domed volcano wakes from long remission,
Explodes, contaminates the atmosphere.
The sun retreats behind a ****** smear
And all the world submits to dark perdition.

For weeks the crumpled vegetation limps
Along and feeds on fallen carcasses.
The battered monuments to progress fall

And Wall Street übermensch, now useless gimps,
Assemble near their ruined businesses
And ponder why their profits tend to stall.

He tucks a cigarette behind his ear
Then grabs it back and taps its filter end
Against the bar.  He takes a sip of beer,
Exchanging glances with his lady friend.

He fumbles for his lighter, puts it near
The unlit coffin nail, then leaves to spend
A penny, it appears. (It's yet unclear
The fire will ever find the burley blend.)

Returning now to Zippo and his dear,
He fiddles with a **** to make extend
A perfect jet to kiss the atmosphere,
Then gently lets the cigarette descend

To flame, inhaling deeply, blowing smoke--
Extinguishing a sudden urge to choke.

What putrefaction oozes up from hell
To poison aquifers of decency
And common sense? The crops of
reason smell And do not nourish the constituency.
What polar vortex drops from unknown heights To freeze the congregations of the heart?
The steeples topple, enmity ignites
And malice rips tranquility apart.
The times devolve. Security and peace, Once real estate on which a home could rise,
Shrugs off its immigrants, revokes its lease
And shows indifference to human cries.
A Lucifer of arrogant display
Has come to sweep benevolence away.