We Flew Once

Short poem about a gravestone found in the middle of nowhere and who it might signify

We flew once.
Angels and dragons
Laughed at our sport.
Untouchable us,
Bringing our
Foolish wisdom
Like alms to the poor.

No, we soared.
We were eagles!
And all the rest
Mere sparrows.
We, who stepped
On the moon,
Explored even beyond;
We could fly.

We fell
To the earth,
Wings clipped
By our pride and anger;
So sure we were
The rightful gods,
The royal blood
Of all nations.

We became gods
Remaking man from dust
Or with machines
We ruled with our iron fists
Made of knowledge and money
The velvet glove of science
Was our secret handshake.

A small, unadorned box
On the dining table
Of the deities
Should have been ignored
Vanity and curiosity
Whispered
Open it, open it!

In the end,
A rock,
A solid reminder
That here we were:
Once brave,
Once strong,
Masters of our own destiny.

We flew once.