ACCOUNT OF MY DAYS
Sequence: 4
WHAT THEY BUILD AND WHERE
they build their cities on the plain
where the large fields nearby make supply easy
they build them in the foothills that catch the rain
that falls in predictable seasonal patterns
where good stone for building lies close by
they build them on rivers that enable trade
they put them on the coast for the plentiful fish
and the long journeys possible if you are brave enough
in arid places half-desert they have found
the soil to be rich if irrigated
and in complete deserts they have built great cities
that last as long as the water can be brought in
in the center of grasslands that go
for thousands of miles the blue above
the shades of green and brown below
they build where the great road splits
decorated cities filled with music
home to scholars who rely on the travelers
they have built cities high in the mountains
cities on islands cities in swamps
cities where winter is long cities that only know summer
cities with walls with canals with buried wires
cities bored into the rocks of ancient gorges
hell they are now even planning cities for the air
made of machines incapable of coming back to earth