But not, surely, for the first time in human history. How many others have stood in this place? Left behind, with all gone, all swept away. The dead bodies evaporating like slow smoke; their loved and carefully tended homes crumbling away like deserted anthills. Their bones reverting to calcium; night predators
The passage reflects on the recurring themes of loss and abandonment throughout human history. The speaker contemplates the many who have faced similar situations, emphasizing a sense of shared human experience in the face of devastation. It highlights the inevitability of decay and the passing of time, suggesting that many lives have been irreversibly altered or erased.
Furthermore, the imagery used conveys a poignant sense of mourning as bodies and homes disappear into oblivion, likened to smoke and crumbling structures. This evokes a powerful connection to the transience of life and the natural cycle of existence, where the memories of loved ones fade, and the remnants of their lives are eventually reclaimed by nature.
