City Cloaked

The city I am

My alleys veins, my water nurture

Nobody need stand on ceremony before my doors

I am a home to you

And to them

Of ashes they come

In sackcloth cloaked



Much was told of me

Listen to my names, different by tongue

A rose by any other name smells just as sweet



The banners flying in the wind over my towers

Purposeless

I have no flag, no religion

No loyalty

I harbour all but stand for none

A waver, declaring my immunity



Diaspora

The one without religion inside the dogma

Listen to those long gone

It is they who are loyal to me

Those in sackcloth

And those who yearn for me



Some are pious, some cater to whims, 

Some provoke

But I am a labyrinth of layers

Find only sense

Without a compass



For the city I am