Civilization is hooped together, brought

Under a rule, under the semblance of peace

By manifold illusion; but man’s life is thought

And he, despite his terror, cannot cease

Ravening through century after century,

Ravening, raging and uprooting that he may come

Into the desolation of reality:

Egypt and Greece, good-bye, and good-bye, Rome.

Hermits upon Mount Meru or Everest

Caverned in night under the drifted snow,

Or where that snow and winter’s dreadful blast

Beat down upon their naked bodies, know

That day brings round the night, that before dawn

His glory and his monuments are gone.