Architecture .

Shells wherein we work , play , and live .
And something we all have to look at
whether we like to or not .

We almost all agree that the Lincoln Memorial
is a cool-lookin' stucture ,
but it's entire purpose is to mention someone dead ,
and look like a pretty greek temple .
A rehash of tastes thousands of years past .
What about architecture that has real function ?
How about an atom smasher ?
Or a Dairy Queen™ ?

No matter where on the globe ,
our first great works of grand architecture
have been created for people's greatest beliefs ,
Religion .

Our humble accending gestures to Gods in the heavens
have produced beautiful results for many centuries ,
all over the world ,
required great labour of many people ,
even costing lives .

And what belief does the inspired mind
at the turn the 21st century cling to ?
A new faith which boosts achritectual heights
to the limits of engineering physics ?
Money !
Be in awe of crystal cathedrals of commerce !
Banking , Real Estate , Industry !

Yeah , these sort of views are truly captivating ,
if you could afford it ,
but what is the scene on the streets ,
the porches of these glorious structures ?
Where peoples of all persuasions should meld .
Filth ? Squalor ? Crime ?
Are they empty shells at night ?
Does every damn corner smell like piss or vomit ?!

These are the current tallest buildings in the world .

They are in Malaysia !
In fact , all near future record-breakers
are slated to be built in Asia !
What's going on , America ?
Can't get it up anymore ?

Remember that all architecture was modern at one time .
The most common old-school material , stone ,
looks better and better as it weathers .
Today's touted glass and steel modern monuments
are sparkly , shiny machines of the late 20th Century ,
but only can look proud for a few years .
The metal tarnishes , the glass stains .