How Beautiful It Is

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by Robinson Jeffers


It flows out of mystery into mystery: there is no beginning—
How could there be? And no end—how could there be?
The stars shine in the sky like the spray of a wave
Rushing to meet no shore, and the great music
Blares on forever, but to us very soon
It will be blind. Not we, nor our children nor the human race
Are destined to live forever, the breath will fail,
The eyes will break—perhaps of our own explosive vile
Vented upon each other—or a stingy peace
Makes parents fools—but far greater witnesses
Will take our places. It is only a little planet
But how beautiful it is.

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