I see an empire falling when
its children put their bodies on the line
to hinder the outline of its advance
I see a looming collapse when
the empire’s new native, its own offspring
uses an untested power to squeeze the centre back
I see a dynasty drawing to a close when
it can no longer bear, despite itself, either in weight or idea
the quantity of its accidental spawn
But I see a World in motion as
those born within are ready to go without
tear down their inheritance in the name of a new heritage
Then, I see the myths of the empire coming undone as
it repurposes the language of conquest, terror and violence
to promulgate the destruction of its own
Which sees the true face of the empire as
something which was never “ours” to begin with
but the metastasis of a far more anti-human force
So, as I see the downfall of this empire
I see the return of the human
I see only humans in these children fighting for the dead and the unborn.