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...THE IMPOSSIBLE INDISPENSIBILITY OF THE ARS POETICA by HAYDEN CARRUTH THE MERCY OF LAZARUS by STEPHEN DOBYNS A SUMMER'S GARDEN by ROBERT FROST FRAGMENTARY BLUE by ROBERT FROST UNTITLED, 1968; FOR MARK ROTHKO by JAMES GALVIN IF HE SHOULD COME by EDWIN MARKHAM |