The green dawn never came. This land
sank under the sea. We might have
been a new Atlantis. No more –
ships, lost and riding the dark sea

watch ignorant spitfires flee.
A wall surrounds the island, seen
from the water as grey cliffs are
seen. So. If everything old burns –

that is after all, what you wanted –
was it not? You had rather seen
a new England, where car horns blare
nine coughing blasts and then we drown.

Enough of these childish things.
we can barely breathe. If flames rise
and cast their shadows on the sea,
each of you who brought this rank fate

will meet the avenging angel
in your dreams, burning and the sun
burning, burning. You take Blake’s name
in vain to sing Jerusalem.

Blake sings with me. Your hope was not.
And now as your voices raise up
in panic, I let a half smile –
a great red dragon smiles in me