Impermanence

Wisdom of the ages, passed through generations
From father to son, from mother to daughter
A shared legacy of a people
Their knowledge, their heritage, an ancient gift.

By voice or rune or paper passed
Mankind's knowledge in words held fast
Until the day when those words moved swiftly
Burning bright, then fading to obscurity.

A weapon that cannot be wielded
After today's sun has set
A shield that brings us no safety
In battles with tomorrow's foes.

How quick we are to forget the old ways
Spurning the gifts of the past
Wildly we embrace our fleeting power
Seldomly knowing the cost.

Today's wisdom
May never be known
To those that follow in years to come
Cursed to wander alone.

Or maybe they are blessed
To prosper in innocence
Which came at our expense
Our downfall, our descent into impermanence.