The Statues: A Poem

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THE STATUES. {For the Improvement Era.)

Toward the sunset, by the inland sea, Girdled by mountain, meadow, lake and lea, Two mighty structures stand, aloft, sublime, And rooted like the hills to rival time. At either crest, and drawing up men's eyes. An angel stood uplifted to the skies, And as it stood with emblem waving free, Fronting the world, and fronting sky and sea, A storm, but for the hills a hurricane, Swept in with mighty ruin from the plain. And lo! the citadel's exalted crown The Goddess Justice, ruining went down.

Unmoved by tempest and the rod of time. Calling to every creed, and land and clime. The other angel kept its lofty stand, Warning the nations of the stern, red hand Of death and ruin sweeping through the land. Truth's heralder! above the multitude, Upon the temple's pinnacle he stood, Pointing a refuge in the ample arm Of mountain bulwark, from the wreck and storm. So, beat upon by sword and tempest hurled Among the nations and to all +he world. Though towering justice (wavering now she stands) Falls like "a ruin from men's feeble hands, x And in the grip of anarchy the base Of earth is hurried tumultuous from its place; Though storm, and death, and ruin sweep the land, The cause and heralders of truth shall stand. T. E. Curtis Salt Lake City, Utah.