Contrast

The world has many seas, Mediterranean, Atlantic, but

       here is the shore of the one ocean.

And here the heavy future hangs like a cloud; the

       enormous scene; the enormous games preparing

Weigh on the water and strain the rock; the stage is

       here, the play is conceived; the players are

       not found.

I saw on the Sierras, up the Kaweah valley above the

       Moro rock, the mountain redwoods

Like red towers on the slopes of snow; about their

       bases grew a bushery of Christmas green,

Firs and pines to be monuments for pilgrimage

In Europe; I remembered the Swiss forests, the dark

       robes of Pilatus, no trunk like these there;

But these are underwood; they are only a shrubbery

       about the boles of the trees.

                    Our people are clever and masterful;

They have powers in the mass, they accomplish marvels.

       It is possible Time will make them before it

       annuls them, but at present

There is not one memorable person, there is not one

       mind to stand with the trees, one life with

       the mountains.