Dr Faustus

Things aren’t what they were.

Man, having mastered earth,

starves and poisons her;

extends his firman further:

water and air

suffer his mandate too.

He’ll find it doesn’t do.

Land, ocean, wind,

starved and poisoned must

starve and poison him

—unless rather his first

but still wildest, least biddable slave, fire

twist in his hand

and make a suddener end.