oh future reader

written for a contest on AllPoetry website hosted by Tytherpol see: [ ancient wisdom ] by Tythepol

long we stumbled in the darkness
that swept across the sky
like hornets stirred to blasphemy
they spewed forth from the sun
and earth was lost

our bleached bones mark trails of tears
the ancient shores rear high and spare
into the pits they marched us
down, down, into the depths we fled
where once had been but sea
leviathan and behemoth crushed us there
how many millions perished beneath the dragon stones

behold your gods! our priests proclaimed
with garlands fair, great feasts and wine
we were assembled in massive throngs
alas, the priests, our kings, all that was noble
of earth and might ...
consumed, crushed, trampled and scorned
these were not gods, but heathen proud
who came but to conquer and destroy

is there trace left of our humble homes?
is one garden leafy green ... unscorched?
is there page left of our vast learning?
a tattered poem swept by savage wind?
just one pearl ... one taste or morsel of bread
a sip of clean water to quench great thirst ...
to remind us of our humanity ... of our past, however dim?

it is with ashes mixed with tears that I scribe upon this stone
a remembrance to you, oh future reader,
of what is .... of what was ... of all that's lost