Man in Nature

Climbing up the hillside beneath the summer stars   I listen to the murmur of the drowsy ebbing sea; The newly-risen moon has loosed her silver zone   On the undulating waters where the ships are sailing free. O moon, and O stars, and O drowsy summer sea.   Drawing thy tide from the city up the bay, I know how you will look and what your bounds must be,   When we and our sons have forever passed away. You shall not change, but a nobler race of men   Shall walk beneath the stars and wander by the shore; I cannot guess their glory, but I think the sky and sea   Will bring to them more gladness than they brought to us of yore.