In the beginning of the end, Death moved

Over the mask of the waters, breathing

In putrefaction that bred mosquitos

And flesh flies. And Death said, Let there be light:

And there was a flash of white phosphorus

Across mountains of rubble, a smokescreen

Of desolation that split grey concrete 

Into clouds of asbestos. And Death saw 

That it was good, not caring that humans

And their household animals would suffer

A silent and cancerous end. For days,

The bombs rained, until night could not be told

From day, and Death said, Let the foul waters

Bring forth pestilence: so those without aid

Might feel the thrust of the mosquito’s quick

Injection and maggots might sanitise

The carcasses of the dead. Let us watch 

As human sewage poisons fish and those

That eat the fish are polluted in turn.

On the final day, having seen that man

Was made in his own image, Death rejoiced 

That sky and earth, finally, were finished.