Poems (Hoffman)/Cities in the Sand
CITIES IN THE SAND.
While the sun is gilding Sea and sky and land,Little hands are building Cities in the sand.
Spire and dome and column, Rising high and grand,Churches still and solemn Built of granite sand.
Shining streets and portals Wrought by brain and hand,The conceits of mortals Builded in the sand.
Boldly o'er the gravel Come a noisy band,Ah! They soon will level Cities in the sand.
Tossing, roaring, tumbling, Laughing, sporting andWashing down and crumbling Cities in the sand.
Where are all the toilers? Where are they who plannedFor the sportive spoilers Cities in the sand?
Gone from beach and boulder, Gone from bank and strand;Waves than sunbeams colder Revel on the sand.
While the mad tide rages, I can understandHow the waves are—ages, And the cities—sand.
In the past are lying Ruins, wisely planned;While the years are crying: "Cities in the sand."
While the sun is gilding Sea, and sky, and land,Larger hands are building Cities in the sand.