Foundations

The tower is crumbling, fire
Eats at the wood of its base, conglomerating
In storms as if birds by the roaring ocean,
Pelicans perched on the leavening tide,
Flocked in clouds round carrion,
Of fish-heads -- cawed and dived;

It licks its base
Like chops, it climbs
Over its basis;

The ruddy foundations
Slump and the structure
Commences to shake,
Belching bloody
Ballyhoos
Of blackened soot,
And snakes

Its erection
From side to side,
All set to
Crack, twist, sunder,

Then collapse.