 Leslie also note that while "The Wanderer" has a moral purpose, "The Ruin" has a detached tone.An alternative rendition of the poem in Modern English, was set by Peter Hammill to music as the song "Imperial Walls", on his 1979 album "pH7".Another version, by Michael Alexander, was set by Nicholas Maw as his piece 'The Ruin' for double eight-part chorus and solo horn.