A savage business! Ruin of the past. The wreck of roofs, the ignominious fall Of lofty tower and well-knitted wall. Strength, use, and beauty to oblivion cast. A dangerous business! Ply the pick too fast, Press too impatiently the structure tall, And this your ravage will become your pall, Destroyed and the destroyer one at last. And yet a hopeful business! In that place Waiting and clean another wall will rise, And other windows flash a morning grace. And other towers dream into the skies; And all the years will know a larger Joy Because a sturdy Vandal dared destroy. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...AUSPEX by JAMES RUSSELL LOWELL BY THE SEA by CHRISTINA GEORGINA ROSSETTI AUTUMN MALADE by GUILLAUME APOLLINAIRE TO AN ENEMY by ANNA HEMPSTEAD BRANCH EXPEDITIONAL by CHARLES WILLIAM BRODRIBB DIS ALITER VISUM; OR, LE BYRON DE NOS JOURS by ROBERT BROWNING |