Embezzled in gold, with heart of emerald,
An ancient Palace stood fast –
The family within played and thrived and loved
As their ancestors had done past.
Then, without warning, without rhyme, without reason,
The sky exhaled vehement breath –
Cavernous spheres of Fire and Rock, Ice and Steel,
Prompted land and life to death.
Witnessing horrors. Seeing nothing.
Fire burning, Feeling not.
I walked through that Palace, crumbling to cinders all around
And felt Wonder.
Morning's Early Dark 