Towers Of Sand

howling through the silence
open desert lies ahead
behind and beyond
a wind that blows forever

once towering mountains
slowly ground to dust
now towering dunes
echoes of eternal winds

the sands of time
stirring in the eyes
of those who refuse to cry
over spilled grains

sitting under the moon
their reflected faces
shimmering across the dunes
crystal waves in the wind

citadel of smoke and flame
succumbed to the sand
landscapes ever shifting
buried by the former self

testament to man's folly
grand visions shimmer deeply
soaring towers now scorched
dreams of smoldering coal

burning beams pierce
faint clouds laced with ash
glass rivers crawl under
clouds flecked with ember

fortress of iron and steel
breath long since extinguished
desert winds exposing
bleached and rusted bones

marking a brief resurgence
in barren times of sorrow
defying reason to remain
a moment to be soon forgotten

when the winds pick up
sweeping along once more
the remains already dead
and their memories forgotten