What Animates the Otherworldly Dead

To impress the observer
With the power of the dead man
And, therefore, his lineage,

Stratified societies
Specialized in well-built tombs,
Kurgans and mausoleums,

Pyramids, that sort of thing,
Which, once the lineage ceased
Or ceased to be powerful,

Served as no more than targets
For grave robbers, pasturage
For nimble goats, holy grails

For the archeologists,
And so forth. See what I mean?
Power is always symbolized

By the powerless icons
Of the living descendants.
Dig deeper. Symbol's power.