A desert poem

I talked to a traveler from a distant land,
Who told: "Two mighty cities, once so grand,
Now stand in ruins, weathered and worn,
Their glory faded, their purpose torn.
  Near them, a shattered statue lies,
Its face once proud, now marred by time.
Its empty eyes stare out at the sky,
As if to mourn their city's decline.
  On a pedestal, these words are seen:
'Here once stood two cities, vast and fair,
But time has taken its toll, and now
Only ruins remain, a silent vow
  To all who see them: power fades,
And all that's left is the desert's embrace.'
  I looked upon the ruined scene,
And felt a pang of sorrow keen.
For here, once stood two cities great,
Now fallen, their power unmade.
  But in despair, I still could see
A lesson that would set my people free:
All that's done can never last,
the good, the bad - in time will pass."