I am the very loneliest
Of creatures in the universe
Indeed I am an epitaph to Man
For having witnessed mass destruction
Like you've never dreamed and worse
I fear I shall bear witness once again

So said the lighthouse keeper
As he struggled up the spiral stairs
Which led him to the laser flare
Which scanned the cosmic void
Where keeping constant vigil
He'd forewarn, this gallant guard of guards
Beware all ships the space graveyard
And its stones of asteroids

For though my race was thought immune
Themselves they did consume
So be warned or be mourned tomorrow
And from your deafess do desist
And pray take heed of this
For your present course
Can only end in sorrow

So said the lighthouse keeper
As he wiped a teardrop from his nose
Upon which his spectacles rose
And gazed out to the stars
And like a portrait still he stared
And sighing to himself declared
I must invent the perfect prayer
Not yours, not mine, but ours

Which in the name of charity
Might lead us to Eternal Peace
The ultimate philosophy
Some simple, single phrase

The old and much encumbered man
Then came to rest with head in hand
He thought
And thought
And thought away his last remaining day

(Epilogue:
When to his end the old man came
Death told him "You'll not die in vain"
And on his lips the fatal kiss was placed
But from within his falling chest
The old man uttered one last breath
And had we heard his parting word
We'd know that he had said.