Fragments

1

Huge plates of rock,
Shift lightly and laugh at us,
We on top, heap sand
And stone from place to place,
Build foundations where things give.
We set against this ancient clay
Our store of structures,
Thrust, rigid - swinging through
The unstill space.
Glass-sides and girders,
Sky-piercing cement,
Stuff of consequence.
Ah! All is upward
Like unfalling steam.

1989