Babel

Do you remember

The language we spoke then?

A subtle tongue

With rolled Rs

And muscles vibrating

Like taut strings

Playing off of each other

In harmony

 

We held each other

And we trembled at

What our voices

Had built

Soft promises piled up

To reach the sky

Towers topped with

Choruses singing

Mouths wide in Os

Big enough to

Swallow the world

 

I remember the language

I remember the words

Syllables of love and praise

Deifying mortals

Exalting flawed humans

Lifting each other up

So that angels would have to say

This is not right

This is not allowed at all