The sound too soft to hear
The sacred shadows speak
Of terrible drought, death
And grave military defeat
A tale of disaster, birthed
The yawning reach of peril
A haunted ancient necropolis
Memories of the dead linger
Echoes of sorrow, pain
Keep solemnly calling
In a city emptied
By the consequence
A foolish king paused
While ignoring his people
Leading to an anger
Simmering, brewing
They hungered, too
For justice, also food
With his hatred of his people
And epic overconfidence
The city broke down
And people starved
Soon the walls fell
All hope falling
And riders poured through
The now open gates
Of the city emptied
Of living people
The few survivors taken
To be held and used as slaves
Dead remained where they lay
The city fell into utter ruin
When a king refused to believe
His reign could be compromised
By the warnings of generals
Of impending dangers
And refusal of rain to fall
To prepare for it at all
When the people ate the seed
Nothing was left to plant
Without food, people waited
For the arrival of the riders
Who'd act without reply
And when they came
It was over
The city, empty and haunted
Ruined for all days
