*
By,
The waters,
The waters,
Of Babylon
*

The small Asian man walked with apparent bewilderment around the lake reflecting the cloudless blue sky. Trees grew happily with leaves of green providing ample shade for the others who had settled in the semi-darkness already. He was exceedingly puzzled, knowing as he did the rules that governed his existence.
A shadow caught his attention and he almost ran for joy, the fear of being wrong keeping him firmly in place however. It wasn't real, not in a sense that can be explained to many, it just wasn't real. A woman stood, shook her skirt and walked into the sunlight, back to the newcomer. He wasn't surprised she had not seen him, it had been that way as long as they had known each other. A voice called a name to him that he had almost forgotten as being his own. He turned and welcomed the owner with a strange warmth.
"I had thought that I would never see you again my old friend." She said, enfolding him in her arms.
"I had thought you would be long gone by now my dear friend." His smile wasn't happy truly but nor was hers. They sat under a cool tree.

*
We lay down and wept,
And wept,
For thee Zion.
*

He pointed at the sunny faced girl, laughing with another child, her blue eyes sparkling with mischief, golden hair dancing in the light.
"I do not remember her from my time. Who was she?"
"The last survivor, number three, she died so very young." Her voice was soft and he guessed the purpose for the child instantly.
"And all children need an imagination." They watched as the newer arrivals, the ones who still felt the loss keenly each time, went to the shores of the lake to bury their heads in their hands and say goodbye to places they had once known, once lived, once loved, once hated. The memories brought back because of those around them.
"They make good people into bad, don't they?" The woman said quietly.
"They choose very carefully. I think I have met this times'. I admire them all."
"More than one, old friend?"
"There are three. Two in love who will fight until the end, another who will be there at the end. It is she who has changed this cycle."
"The others sound like us old friend."
"In a way they are dear friend. I can only hope not to see them here."
"To have our home destroyed for the sixth time. I wish it would have killed me the first."
"If you remember dear friend, it did. The first time, it killed all of us."

*
We remember,
We remember,
We remember thee Zion
*

And they did. They were never allowed to forget. Zion would fall. Again.