No, Diaspar

No, Diaspar, you weren’t always thus,

The world was huge, the Universe was bright,

The stars were warm, they were awaiting us

And we were young and ready for a fight.

No, Diaspar, before the walls were built

Your shining ships have reached across the void,

You didn’t know fear or doubt or guilt;

But then you were attacked. You were destroyed.

No, Diaspar. The tombs of Shalmiran,

The relics of the long-forgotten war,

Don’t mark the field from which the foe has ran

But left us locked inside forevermore.

No, I'm afraid that you have lied to us

For, Diaspar, you’ve been forever thus.