Caroling Dusk/Dust

by William Waring Cuney

For works with similar titles, see Dust.

DUST

Dust,

Through whichProud bloodOnce flowed.

Dust,

Where a civilizationFlourished.

Dust,The Valley of the Nile,Dust,

You proud ones, proud of the skillWith which you play this game—Civilization;Do not forget that it is a very old game.Men used to play it on the banksOf the Tigris and the EuphratesWhen the world was a wilderness.

There is a circle around ChinaWhere once a wall stood.Carthage is a heap of ashes.And Rome knew the pomp and gloryYou know now.

The Coliseum tells a storyThe Woolworth Building may repeat.

Dust,Pharaohs and their armies sleep there.

Dust,Shall it stir again?

Will Pharaohs rise and ruleAnd their armies march once more?

Civilization continually shiftsUpon the places of the earth.