Stone Upon Stone Upon Fallen Stone Poem by Kris Whelan (1971)

I’m standing on the cobbles of a debris street
It’s written up so high, almost thirty feet
Must be as ancient as the ones that baked the clay
And it’s lasted there to this very day
Stone upon stone upon fallen stone
I trip and fall; broken bone
Stone upon stone upon fallen stone
Streets of grease no sunlight here today
I thought I’d left forever when I broke away
But here I stand on these streets again
It’s written up high I just don’t know when
Stone upon stone upon fallen stone
The author is unknown
Stone upon stone upon fallen stone
Old tramlines scar these streets carved into the stones
Remnants from a time when glue was made from bones
I can almost smell the slaughter in the air
The work horse got too old and was skinned for its fine hair
Stone upon stone upon fallen stone
Just who knocked the king from off his throne?
Stone upon stone upon fallen stone
Stone upon stone upon fallen stone
Stone upon stone upon fallen stone
Stone upon stone upon fallen stone