Safekeeping Clause

Safekeeping stood guard at the gate—
“You cannot change this state.
Show me your witness,
Your precondition—fitness—
Or alteration will have to wait.”

An update arrived all alone—
No witness, no precondition known.
Safekeeping refused,
The change was abused,
Till another came bringing the throne.

Two updates competed to land—
Each one wanted to take a stand.
But Safekeeping stepped in,
Prevented the sin,
And held all the conditional hand.

The preconditions grew more and more—
Nearly impossible to explore.
“You must meet all these,”
Said Safekeeping with ease,
“Or you’ll never get through this door.”

All state that could ever be moved—
Required a lock to be proved.
Conditional checksums,
Precondition sums,
And nothing could ever be soothed.

A request for change came in—
Without the precondition to win.
“Not yet,” said Safekeeping,
“The latch will be keeping—
Until you bring witness within.”

Two updates can’t step on each other—
Not while Safekeeping’s the mother.
Conditional locks,
Precondition flocks,
Protecting like no other.

The clauses were drafted with care—
So complex, nobody would dare
To meet every phrase,
To satisfy praise,
And state remained frozen in there.