Poems (Barker)/The House upon the sand
The House Upon The Sand.
"Where are you building?" He said, And I answered him, "On the sand,In blind despair I slipped from the rock On the yielding unstable land.""Are you building on earthly things?" And I answered him, "Master, yes;The fleeting pleasures, the dross of life, Arrayed in its gayest dress."
"Is it better so," he said, And I answered him, "ask me not,For I cannot see o'er the wall of pride, And the past is all forgot.""Is it all forgot?" he said. And I answered him, "look around,My home is beautiful, fair to see, Though 'tis built on the yielding ground."
"Have you no doubt?" he said, And I answered him, "Master, no,For this lovely vale is bright with flowers, And rough winds never blow.""Will they never blow?" he said, "Will the sunshine never fail,And your feet find easy paths to tread, In this bright and pleasant vale?"
And I answered him, "Master, yes;" But e'en as I spoke the word,A rumbling low, as of thunder, came, And the little vale was stirred.Then a blinding flash of light, And the winds began to roar,And the waves ran high as the tempest came, And dashed far up the shore.
Then a voice, like an angel's, said, "Can you stand the tempest's shock?Remember, whatever betides the vale, No tempest can shake the rock."And I answered him, "Master, come, Come quick, e'er it be too late!For my beautiful home in ruin lies, And I stand at the outer gate."
"Where would you build?" he said, As he looked at the desolatet land,And I answered him, "Master, never again Shall I build upon the sand.""But, will you not be afraid, When you hear the tempest's shock?"And I answered him quickly, "Master, no! For I build on the solid rock.