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Scaling Babylon
by Christianna Soumakis
I climbed the spire steepling Xerxes’ palace.
Spyglass in my back pocket.
My Altra sneakers, sky blue,
scrambled on the hammered gold.
The ravens gathered, some with prophetic meat,
some to place their bets, rattling wings like dice.
The mercury rose. My hands slicked,
and twice I slipped and was caught
by the hooked wings of gargoyles.
The angels faced away, praying.
The crows’ circle shrank and a stipple of seagulls
lazed up from the bay, casting soprano stones.
I gained the summit. Straddled the minaret, lifted
my telescope, scanned the horizon’s willows for hung harps,
strings unrusted, still sympathetic.