Metropolis, Chokia now,
of the ancient prairie,  
center of civilization  
and sacred mysteries:  
the observatory circle  
of wooden poles  
and the sacred hill  
for the holy ones,
center of network trade  
thousands of miles linked -  
all was right  
and ordered.
Smaller cities around,  
and far away,  
formed a coherent world,
the sun rose,  
the sun set -  
at the proper times.

Then the Spirits departed:  
rain ceased,  
crops died,  
hunting fled -  
and the world began to fail:  
starving, dying -  
the center did not hold.
Survivors scattered…  

and no one knows the end.