Here Lies History

APPLE trees are as sorrowful
Ruins as Nineveh,
Their bones are as beautiful,
They have as much to say.

Here was an empire
Of men bronzed and burning,
Here was a rainbow thing,
Man’s deep yearning!

Here were sweat and cunning
For the children’s good,
Honey, hope, and happiness
Wrested from wild wood.

Here the bitter wilderness
Where the thin birds fed
On thorns and fear and emptiness
Was broken into bread.

Now here lies the holy bread
Wormed and weathered crust,
Here lies hope, the heart
Returned to the dust.

Here lies history
In all its world-wide span,
Bones and broken apple trees —
Here lies man.