Today’s prompt: Have you ever heard someone wonder what future archaeologists, whether human or from alien civilization, will make of us? Today’s challenge is to answer that question in poetic form, exploring a particular object or place from the point of view of some far-off, future scientist?

“This was a beautiful planet, see how it lived 

And breathed. Fresh air in every mouthful

You don’t believe me? No, don’t take off your masks

The air here is foul, filled with the stench 

Of death and gases. Poetry was written here

And here, poets thrived and warned. In their works 

Or what survived, we have found beauty and glory

Wonderful stories, of life and love and growth. 

So what went wrong, you ask, I’ll tell you, 

The creatures on this earth became too proud. 

They thought they could rule Nature

They heeded no omens, they listened not

When the wise ones spoke, they laughed. 

And the strangest thing, yes, you do see their skulls?

Each has some device in it, and their digits 

Are clinging to useless little mechanical tools 

Even as they were annihilated all they did 

Was type away at their screens, those fools!”