The Key Awakens

In the earth’s womb, a forgotten city breathes,
stone corridors and dead lights hold back time;
the dust is skin from a whispering breath,
and echoes keep footsteps that won’t return.
A key turns and the iron sings; the city’s throat unclasps,
Laria makes itself known, an ancient lung finds the dawn.
Limestone statues inhale; canals speak of lost names,
memory lights up, and the voids turn into rooms.
When the key pauses, the breathing falls silent for an instant,
but that breath remains etched upon the damp walls.
The city is reborn between shadows and new lights,
and waits for a new key to restart it all.