Plans In Ruin

I wake from sleep
Arise from bed to
Gaze upon the glorious city
My city of Rome
The heavens shine down
Down on mountains
Stone upon stone
My city in ruin
A tower of smoke
Ascending from ash
The city is smote
Buried in death

I step outside
But as I step
My house subsides
Amidst the cries
What fate has swept
In through our lives
Such strength of arms
Such force of size
Now all is lost
I look, aghast
What could have caused
The gods to act?

Without a home
My feet trudge on
O’er broken stone
O’er broken land
These crumbling columns
Dissolve to sand
Intent with hand
To strike a blow
Into my heart
I fall apart
The city grand
Now sleeps in sand

Tablets of stone
Attract my gaze
Words etched, so cold
Recount my days
My plans of glory
My worthless plays
Theatre of stories
Now crumbled lays
So it all comes to this
My plans, my future,
Crumpled in a fist
My thoughts amiss
The ground I kiss
Longing for a cure
I pray;
The heavens bear witness.