What life was like back then
in the twenty-first century
will likely remain a mystery

The sources are quicksand:
unclear, contradictory, and
psychologically inexplicable

Most of it was lost
due to budget cuts, thoughtlessly
or because it seemed superfluous

Some of it appears to have been destroyed
on purpose, and what remains is ego
tripping, propaganda, and entertainment

The alarming reports
from the beginning of the century
are serious, but the facts of the time

the decisions made
and the actual actions
are anyone's guess