We have sunk enormously.

The word decadence,
now whispered or pronounced
in guarded terms
will soon ring out like
an alarm clock.

The pessimism is increased
by an inner emptiness that we cannot fill with the daily round.

Our arts display a hurried and
noisy attitude that is not to our liking.

JUST AS IF THE GHOST OF THE PRINTING PRESS HAD
PASSED OVER IT ALL.