In a dead city on a barren world I found a monument
On pushing the button it said in an ancient language
"You are in the capital of the great Human Empire
Sole civilizing force of the stars
Father to Minded species
Mother to ecosystems
Destroyer of defiant worlds
Discoverer of all knowledge
Source of all wealth
All inferior beings do not fear to look upon us
But show your reverence!"
Nothing else of these creatures survived
Assuming they were ever real at all
Copyright © 2002 by Thomas R.