Author: A. H. Laidlaw
Thou art mighty, Babylon! Thou art haughty, Babylon! Haughty, mighty, Babylon! Through thy streets the bats shall fly, O'er thy ruins owls shall cry, All thy chivalry shall die, Babylon! Golden-godded Babylon! Idol-cursd Babylon! Idol-cursd, golden-godded, Babylon! All thy gods shall bite the dust, All thy golden godlets must Sink to rottenness and rust, Babylon! Thou art royal, Babylon! Thou art ancient, Babylon! Ancient, royal, Babylon! Royal laws and ancient lies Vanish when the people rise, Truth must live, but Falsehood dies, Babylon! Thou art sensual, Babylon! Thou art sotted, Babylon! Sotted, sensual, Babylon! History this tale will tell, To the righteous all is well; Daniel rose, Belshazzar fell, Babylon! Thou art bloody, Babylon! Thou art cruel, Babylon! Cruel, bloody, Babylon! Cain's curse on your brow is set, Bloodstains God will not forget, And His curse pursues you yet, Babylon! Thou art crumbled, Babylon! Thou art humbled, Babylon! Humbled, crumbled, Babylon! Vengeance leaves no gated wall, Vengeance leaves no gilded hall, Vengeance blasts and buries all, Babylon!
Type of Poem: Lyric Poem
Date Written:
Date Published:
Language: English
Keywords: Public Domain
Source: Public Domain Collection
Publisher:
Rights/Permissions: Public Domain
Comments/Notes: This poem is a powerful and damning indictment of Babylon, the ancient city-state known for its wealth, power, and moral decadence. The poet uses repetition, alliteration, and powerful imagery to capture the rise and fall of the city. Each stanza begins with a description of Babylon's qualities — mighty, golden-godded, royal, sensual, bloody, and ultimately, crumbled and humbled. This structure is a poetic representation of the city's journey from a place of power and influence to a fallen, ruined state, showcasing the cyclical nature of power and the consequences of corruption and immorality.
The repeated use of the exclamation "Babylon!" at the end of each stanza serves to constantly bring the reader's attention back to the city, almost as if it were a character in its own right. The language used to describe Babylon transitions from awe-inspiring (mighty, golden-godded, royal) to increasingly negative and damning (sensual, sotted, bloody
Lyric poetry is a powerful and intimate form of expression, characterized by its focus on the personal emotions and thoughts of the poet. Often musical in nature, lyric poems resonate with readers through their vivid language and rhythmic flow, capturing moments of intense feeling.
Here are some key characteristics that define lyric poetry:
From ancient odes to contemporary free verse, lyric poetry remains a beloved and enduring form, celebrated for its ability to articulate the nuances of human emotion in a way that resonates deeply with readers.