Babylon, the Persians and the Medes:
A writing in hand invokes a king's downfall
        In a mysterious script.

Long lost centuries beyond that fabled feast,
Sterile hospital walls disturb a woman's
        Equilibrium,

Although the undermining of her mind
Predates the fort's collapse that led to this
        Benign captivity

Uncontrolled and uncontrollable
Bloodied words commanding 'kill!' appal
        And horrify.

Each night her two men come for one brief hour
To talk and listen for tones that might lend hope
        To sure delivery,

Like all of us she may have well been weighed
In putative and measuring scales which do
        Not find her wanting.