Where is the center?

There were solid dreams there once.
It held stone and tree;
sheltered fox, eagle, and all the hope
of the ocean.
It was the paradox of sky above us
whose origin is in our depths.

We sold it cheap for false peace.
Handed it off for promises of distant wealth. 

In its place, a deep hole light can’t crack. 
A cavern that once held a molten core
now glimmers with rime ice.

When the wind whistles
across the mouth of that pit?
What a thin dirge.
We pass through, singing along.

When we catch each others’ eyes,
it’s all we can do to stifle our screams.