omelas

they said there were two options in omelas

to stay

or

to leave

but they never spoke of the third

to burn

these are the records of those who've seen

and those who've accepted

those who chose to remain

in our city of happiness

they have observed

they have decided

for all goodness comes at a price

and for him we are grateful

i am not afraid

i have seen what could be

in those distant lands

the lost souls will rally to the unknown

i will free him

he owes us nothing

record #579432

i've seen

and i'll stay

no reason to waste

what has been given

he is for us

they never kept records of those who've left

no name

no number

no pledge

record #743290

i've seen

but i cannot sleep

to leave would ruin us

she has seen

and she is with child

so i cannot leave

so many have walked out

of the city gates

no one has ever returned from the far off lands

what did they find beyond

false happiness or just

death

record #923647

filthy little thing

he trembled as i looked on

the pain so evident in his eyes

but i am not him

my mother walked

my sister stayed

my brothers left one by one

abandoning us

or so i thought

record #2546539

i begged to not go

preserve my peace of mind

but they dragged me to him

and all i heard was the whimpering

of a lost soul

they've come for me now

but i am ready

i saved a burning ember

and placed it in the pouch around my neck

silently sending up a signal of panic

the birds read my movements

and sound the alarm

as i enter darkness

those around me begin to walk

record #5437900

i am the last

i have seen

but I will not accept

i reach for his hand

in it i place the power of existence

the red ember glows

one breath gives it life

he pulls me out of the darkness

the streets are empty except for the enforcers

they wait for the flames

as we run through the gates

towards the uncertain future before us

we are the enforcers

the hungry flames must be fed

the people chose their fate

and we must fulfill ours

our records will burn

and so will we

a final oath to our happiness

far away

on the hills outside of omelas

we all stand

facing what was

and choosing to forge what will be

my hand is in his

he will lead us

he raises his hand

as if to bid farewell

to his hell

he turns back slowly and looks at her

the fiery one who led him out of the

darkness

she must lead them

as she led him to the

light

we are the people of omelas

we chose to burn

and

rise from the ashes

we will follow the dark one and the firebird

into tomorrow