The day the thunder came, it terribly poured—
Torrential under an abrasive scour pad sky—
The fields flooded as a monster monsoon gored
An overwhelmed earth with secrets it could not cry.
There, below the appalling pall of dark clouds,
Placed in the middle of nature so cursory—
Once a serene sanctuary with no shrouds—
Stood the bones of Babylon’s halls of ivory.
Where,
O where
Are they now?
© 2025 Tristan Robert Lange. All rights reserved.
-
Author:
Tristan Robert Lange (
Offline) - Published: July 2nd, 2025 10:24
- Category: Unclassified
- Views: 35
- Users favorite of this poem: Teddy.15, Poetic Licence, Cheeky Missy, arqios
Offline)
Comments8
Powerful.
Thank you, Thomas! Much appreciated! 🌹👏
They are long gone and the majesty of mighty Babylon lies buried soon to be a myth of culture beyond its time turned to sin by modern believers. A wonderful poem full of metaphor that might take pages to interpret. Nicely worded Tristan
Oooh. Thank you. I am humbled by that and glad that I successfully layered it. It came to me while watching a storm roll in. As I speak, the song, "Riders on the Storm" has rolled in on my record player. All the same, thank you for your time, analysis, and most humbling encouragement. ⛈️🦴🏛️🌀🙏
Maybe by the river? Oh my if you could speak any louder through your words you would be shouting, and that my friend is a massive compliment. 🌹
Maybe by the river indeed! That, actually reminds me of a Psalm quite fittingly. The most unquoted/preached on Psalm ever, Psalm 137. It begins and ends this way:
"By the rivers of Babylon—there we sat down and there we wept when we remembered Zion...O daughter Babylon, you devastator! Happy shall they be who pay you back what you have done to us! Happy shall they be who take your little ones and dash them against the rock!" (vv. 1, 8-9, NRSV).
Pardon the Psalm, I promise I am not bringing religion into this, but history. Harsh words and imagery coming from a writer who was grieving the destruction of their city, their temple, and their exile to a foreign conqueror's kingdom (Babylon). And, as harsh as those ending words are, every parent and person can would cry out against the destruction of their loved ones, no matter how ugly that cry sounds. The context makes it understandable and relatable.
Anywho, all of that to say..."Maybe by the river" indeed! Long-winded...but thanks for bearing with my silly self. Your words inspired. Thank you, dearest Teddy. I really appreciate your time, your feedback, and your support. ⛈️🦴🏛️🌀🙏
I'm not religious
one of my favourite songs of my childhood 💜 look it up (by the rivers of Babylon 1979)
The single topped the charts when it came out! And the river referred to if I am not mistaken was a canal-like structure called Ahavah, which in their lingo means love... coupled with the song and the passage of scripture brings so much about a far reaching love and reconciliation.
Totally hear you, my friend—and I get and respect that. Honestly, I wrestle with a lot of religion too...mostly the institutional parts. But spirituality? That’s something I think lives in all of us, in different ways. That’s why the Psalms speak to me—they feel human before anything else.
And YES—that song! Thank you for the reminder. 💜 I know that song! Great song drop! Rock on Teddy! Religious institutions may want to dismiss that psalm...music/art never will! 🤣
It's a river in Jamaica 💜
A wonderful write, though not many words they prick at your conscience with many other questions, enjoyed the read
Thank you, dear friend I am glad they deliver! ⛈️🦴🏛️🌀🙏
You are very welcome
The physical Babylon lay in ruin but her spirit lives on... a scary thought.💭🕊️🙏🏻
A Very. Scary. Thought. Indeed! Yet, how far away from ruin is it? 🤷♂️ With beasts (aka Empires), it is never a matter of if it will fall, but when. History, nor prophecy, has ever shown otherwise to be true. Thank you so much. my friend for your engagement. ⛈️🦴🏛️🌀🙏
Quoth the Girrabbit,"Wouldn't you like to know?!--" who doesn't know shall apparently remain blind until...eternity? The driving cause behind our varied languages and disparity hasn't ceased to exist, but morphed throughout the millennia, so far as I know. Charmingly rendered little riddle with grand imagery and a deeply haunting poignancy. Thank you for sharing.
Quoth the Grrrabbit, indeed! 🤣 Thank you my dear friend. Your time and thoughts are always much appreciated! ⛈️🦴🏛️🌀🙏
Good write T. Erm, my poem is 'Where are they now' - Popeye and Obi, that is. Don't answer that! LOL.
Thanks Orchi! I heard they were the wardrobe…picking out something chic to wear to dinner. Oi be, Obi won the best outfit award. Popeye…erm…nevermind! 🤣
Heehee.
such devastation causes not only untold destruction but misery too, and ruins tell their own story
a very powerful poem starkly representing what was, and what is
Amen. Thank you, my dear friend. I always am thankful and look forward to your thoughts. Much appreciated, my friend. I appreciate you! ⛈️🦴🏛️🌀🙏
thank you !
so do I appreciate you thoughtful output
- glad to read, and offer my sincere feedback
take care
You are most welcome! You too!
To be able to comment and rate this poem, you must be registered. Register here or if you are already registered, login here.