The Three Hills

There were three hills that stood alone         With woods about their feet.         They dreamed quiet when the sun shone         And whispered when the rain beat.         They wore all three their coronals         Till men with houses came         And scored their heads with pits and walls         And thought the hills were tame.         Red and white when day shines bright         They hide the green for miles,         Where are the old hills gone?    At night         The moon looks down and smiles.         She sees the captors small and weak,         She knows the prisoners strong,         She hears the patient hills that speak:         "Brothers, it is not long;         "Brothers, we stood when they were not         Ten thousand summers past.         Brothers, when they are clean forgot         We shall outlive the last;         "One shall die and one shall flee         With terror in his train,         And earth shall eat the stones, and we         Shall be alone again."