An Unusual Fortress

I am borrowing a piece of land from Mother Earth

She trusts me with it, I'm not sure why

But it is true that I have agreed, sworn even, to protect it 

I have built an unusual fortress

A membrane, now open, now closed

On clear days, you can see an open tunnel to its heart 

But that day was not a clear day

The night was dark, and I could hear the drums, pounding in the deep

"All men to your stations! Batten the hatches! Red Alert!" 

With all the force of a hurricane, the might of a destructive system bore down to eat us up 

But still I did not draw a weapon 

Hurling asteroids and hand grenades, the might of a destructive system bore down to blow us up 

But still I did not draw a weapon 

WITH ALL THE POTENCY OF A NUCLEAR WEAPON, THE MIGHT OF A DESTRUCTIVE SYSTEM BORE DOWN ON THE WALLS TO LEAVE NO TRACE OF US  

But we did not have need to draw weapons

The system had no power against the walls of this unusual fortress

And as I looked out over the walls, I could see it shrinking in the distance

No! I was mistaken, it was shrinking right before my eyes 

With gladness, I ran to my gates, and I swung them wide

Before me stood a child, timid, ragged, sad, and hungry

I gestured the child to come in, to feel the love and protection of this fortress