There was a fortress on an island named Self-Sufficiency. It contained itself and nothing more. No upkeep was required; yet still the fortress seemed immune to everything to come against it. Cannon balls struck its high, mighty walls. Mother Nature loved toughly, but for many centuries the fortress appeared untouched.
Unseen to those in the surrounding areas and unknown to the fortress, little battles had scared the structure. Weather's fury had weakened it after all. By letting no one in to see to its maintenance, the fortress had doomed itself. Finally, after all it had seen and been through, the fortress crumbled to its knees then surrendered completely. The people now know that no fortress is impenetrable. Nothing lasts forever.
***Note: This is a short story, not really a poem.
