City Cloaked

The city I am
 My alleys veins, my water nurture
 Nobody need stand on ceremony before my doors
 I am a home to you
 And to them
 Of ashes they come
 In sackcloth cloaked
 Much was told of me
 Listen to my names, different by tongue
 A rose by any other name smells just as sweet
 The banners flying in the wind over my towers
 Purposeless
 I have no flag, no religion
 No loyalty
 I harbour all but stand for none
 A waver, declaring my immunity
 Diaspora
 The one without religion inside the dogma
 Listen to those long gone
 It is they who are loyal to me
 Those in sackcloth
 And those who yearn for me
 Some are pious, some cater to whims,
 Some provoke
 But I am a labyrinth of layers
 Find only sense
 Without a compass
 For the city I am