[08-19-2024]
But there was honor here,
for we built this place for you
this anti-temple, this sealed and distant tomb
We are sorry if we have frightened you
we were not sure you would understand
Here, we will tell you what is inside
so that you need not wonder
A long, long tunnel, spiraling down, unlit
too far too walk
a catacomb, with slabs of concrete and steel
too heavy to lift
encased in stone beneath, a metal cask
without a lid to open
and within, a bundle of rods
containing pellets
of dull grey metal
featureless and plain
No silver and no gold
no finely wrought or skillful thing
you need not extract these ancient curses
Take heed: we bury our debts
that you may not be forced to repay them
We did not want you to struggle,
as we now struggle
not for our sakes
We, who have loosed so many burdens
upon an unsuspecting future
we could not bear one more
We were not fools, we know
that men in your time are much the same
as we are now ourselves
we could not hope to last ten thousand years
Some future day, our message will be
ignored or gone
and some unlucky soul will break the seal
thinking some incredible thing within,
Some source of knowledge or power
And sure as is known, from this they will be cruelly unmade
in a most long and agonizing fashion
But to you, who we will never know,
turn away
it need not be you
it need not be today
Go home to those who care for you,
and would not wish to see you harmed.
this is no act of bravery, no deed of high esteem.
you need not linger here
where only death resides
Please, shun this place
do not suffer for our sins
you have no need to join us yet, we ancient dead
Remember that we love you
as though you were our own children
for you are our children
and our only wish
was to protect you
Now turn away
and remember
we love you
we love you
if nothing else, remember
that we loved you
for we built this place
for you