A Grain Of Sand

If starry space no limit knows
 And sun succeeds to sun,
 There is no reason to suppose
 Our earth the only one.
 ‘Mid countless constellations cast
 A million worlds may be,
 With each a God to bless or blast
 And steer to destiny.

Just think! A million gods or so
 To guide each vital stream,
 With over all to boss the show
 A Deity supreme.
 Such magnitudes oppress my mind;
 From cosmic space it swings;
 So ultimately glad to find
 Relief in little things.

For look! Within my hollow hand,
 While round the earth careens,
 I hold a single grain of sand
 And wonder what it means.
 Ah! If I had the eyes to see,
 And brain to understand,
 I think Life’s mystery might be
 Solved in this grain of sand.

Robert William Service