The managed decline of London

should begin with a swift declaration

that it costs too much to be viable,

that the days of it being the nation’s capital

are over and that Big Ben, the Elizabeth Tower

should be allowed to fall into disrepair

and stop,

just one last hurrah on a New Year’s Eve

and let the chimes the following year

just be the recording of an icon

who stood firm against the winds of change.

 

Let London fall,

not the boroughs of course, just London,