The Temple in Baalbeck
Tourists were all eyes looking on Yesterday
The ancient enigma of the massive walls,
Where nature gave birth to Age residing stay
The strict guardian against Time in the halls.
Thunder bolts flashed to crack the adamant stone;
The flash was defied and the walls still stark stand
Against the contending years passing thus moan
Their failure to resolve the walls into sand.
The stones were quarried from hills of patience made
To build thus walls as thus by magic untold
This thisness by that thatness that held and stayed,
The aging heirloom against time never old.
Baal lived here down in the mouth left in rage;
Bacchus hacked the vine and buried the jars deep;
Zeus gathered sages and asked for a presage;
All said, «Shun the guardian who ne’er goes to sleep.
All creations are subject to birth and age
Various varieties that make the whole,
Thus the whole but groups of actors on the stage
Of them the fugitive gods who sent this call:
«Tourists, remember that the walls of Yesterday
Will ever be the home for Age living stay.»