Knowledge fell o’er the edge of the world

And she did not even clatter.

No sound was heard, no noise was made

She did not even matter.

 

How could no one know

That knowing was not known?

How could no one hear

That knowledge lost her tone?

 

The simple and the ignorant –

Their cause may be excused.

But wise and learned men –

They stand, they are accused.

 

To keep, protect and carry on

What they received before:

Their sacred duty to the youth

To convey their ancient lore.

 

Their duty they perverted,

They left wisdom far behind,

And learning, with ne’er a thought,

They threw away in kind.

 

With twisted tales and false reports

They led the young astray,

And filled their minds with useless drabble

Empty thoughts they did convey.

 

The father of lies behind it all

To tell them what is false –

To live a dark and dreary life

An empty hole, a farce.

 

Out from the cave they climbed before

Into bright knowledge’s light,

But now deep down again they go

Behind that foul, black knight.

 

Thus descends a generation,

Ignorant and blind;

Deaf to knowledge crying out,

They bear an empty mind.