Ancient History
Lesson
First, there were floods
Lots of them, and they always wrecked the crops.
Everyone starved.
Then there was irrigation. And fighting
over water. And battles.
Everyone was slain.
Later, there was religion. Thousands of gods,
then one god (whose?) then more battles. Everyone
was converted or slain.
After long periods of nothing happening—
(except the usual—marriage, children, death from disease,
parties and music, drawing and inspiration, the rustle of
wheat)
suddenly war would break out.
This goes on for 5,000 years.
Everyone hated the others for no reason
or every reason we know: the crops, the rights,
the look on his face, don’t look at my daughter that way.
And what will we be remembered for?
Airplanes and electricity? Voting?
Or more battles where everyone was slain. Followed by
long periods where nothing much happened.
First published in Sonora Review
