The Grand Canyon

WHISPER softly in my presence Lest my spirit make thee dread, I was old ere man was thought of And will be young when man is dead.

THE wind, the rain and floods of ages Have deeply carved my walls of rock, Hol'owed here a giant grotto, There a temple block on block.

AS it sought to flee the cold death When the northern winds grew bold, Sending south its slowly creeping Ice on ice life to enfold.

PAGE on page of rock my annals Tell the tales of other times, Other ways and other strivings, Other life and other climes.

SAW each form of life gain power But to fall 'fore tooth and claw Of a newer life and stronger, Ere it too was food for maw.

HERE a fossil in the sandstone, There the shells in limestone locked, Here the footprints of a monster, There a place where life had flocked.

ALL of this before the man thing Ever stood upon my rim, Prating in their childish fancy Of me as Nature's whim.

WHISPER softly in my presence Lest my spirit make thee dread, I was old ere man was thought of, And will be young when man is dead.