Americantis?

“Atlantis Sinking” by Regina Valluzzi

did Atlantis dissolve
in an ocean of shame
salty crystals corroding
her decadent footings
of empire placidly
mindless of once sturdy
virtue now quaking with
woken-mind grasp of
its negligent stewardship
bringing down stout
high towering ramparts
in one fateful night
cataclysmic dark hours
of torment and terror
sun worshipping stones
pulled by punishing gravity
into a mean steaming hiss
under waters unmarked
and unnamed lost forever
her grandeur and conquest
her burnished ennobled
confederacy of wise
law-giver kings so keenly
impressive to Plato
then all but forgotten
to maritime mists from
which shadowy legend
is all to be drawn of
brave people who once
lit the pillars of Hercules
white with benevolent
beacons of world saving
hegemon shining exemplar
of once sacred liberty

(original posted January 2014)