BEHIND the sunset's bars in the wide West, We catch the radiance of the Land of Gold; The dazzling splendors of its wealth untold Flash through our dreams, and wake to vague unrest The soul -- with Life's dull weariness opprest, Or wrapped in weeds of sorrow, fold on fold -- Till, with sheer longing and despair grown bold, We turn to seek that Land where all are blest. But the Gold fades, and the strong stars arise That look beyond the sunset and the sun; They see our little world swing far below, While over it imperial planets glow -- From Heaven they whisper, "Heaven cannot be won Until great Death has come to make men wise." | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...FRAGMENT, ON THE BACK OF THE POET'S MS. OF CANTO I OF 'DON JUAN' by GEORGE GORDON BYRON THE SACK OF BALTIMORE by THOMAS OSBORNE DAVIS HOW CYRUS LAID THE CABLE [JULY 29, 1866] by JOHN GODFREY SAXE THE MORAL FABLES: THE FOX, THE WOLF, AND THE CADGER by AESOP |