time has been

a voice arises from the brazen head
speaking of time and of a coming end
under the sudden wind all branches bend
we cannot tell the living from the dead
cracks in the metal swiftly seem to spread
there's no one here to cry nor to defend
nor yet explain what all these things portend
from bakery shelves now vanishes the bread
and yet the storm we fear has not yet come
we think that we are still allowed some choice
from this lowly place we may rise higher
the head repeats and we are all struck dumb
our breath is silenced by the might voice
and all our lights now lose their honest fire