Wanderer, behold Life's riddle writ in stone, br Fronting Eternity with lidless eyes; br Of all that is beneath the changing skies, br Immutably abiding and alone. br The handiwork of hands unseen, unknown, br When Pharaohs of immortal dynasties br Built Pyramids to brave the centuries, br Cheating Annihilation of her own. br br The heart grows hushed before it. Nay, methinks br That Man, and all on which Man wastes his breath, br The World, and all the World inheriteth, br With infinite, inexorable links br Grappling the soul; that love, hate, birth and death br Dwindle to nothingness before thee--Sphinx.