Towers like These

Moon is our hearthstone, but mortal our tenement;

Here we are building and need not build twice.

This is no earthless nor cloudfounded monument-

Heart laid on heart, mind on mind will suffice

Tempest to blunt and decay to intimidate.

Labor's bright hammers are lifted alone

Not above granite but substance as great;

Falling they echo, but not upon stone.

Lovers can single from Time's deep quarry

Beauty enough to shelter the soul,

All of desire that the brain can carry,

And at the end, when death topples the whole,

Towers like these, though they fall in a night,

Show from the ruins how great was the height.