I was a mountain with snow for a crown, Laughing at clouds as they stumbled down. I thought the world was a small, silly thing, A goat on a ledge, a bird on the wing. The rivers would tickle the stones at my feet, The valleys would bloom and the pines smelled so sweet. I stood so tall, I could shoulder the sky, And I thought I'd never say goodbye. But I watched the years go rolling by, Like rivers beneath a fading sky. I held the world, but it did not stay, Everything I loved was fading away. I watched little children climb up my side, With muddy hands and their arms open wide. They carved their names where the wildflowers grew, And promised forever like children do. Then they were gone, and their children came, With different songs and the very same names. I kept their footprints as long as I could, Till the snow came down, and covered the woods. But I watched the years go rolling by, Like rivers beneath a fading sky. I held the world, but it did not stay, Everything I loved was fading away. I watched cities rise in the morning gold, Their towers bright, their banners bold. They called themselves endless, mighty, divine, Then fell into dust in less time than mine. I heard every bell, every battle cry, Every prayer sent up to the empty sky. I felt every fire, every deep desire, And still I stayed there, the only survivor I thought I was forever. I thought time was small. But i was just, The slowest one to fall. The wind took my edges, The rain wore me thin. Piece by piece, I lost my skin, I am a stone by a long stream, Small as a secret, old as a dream. No one remembers the height I once had, No one knows why the river sounds sad. A child picks me up with wonder in their eyes, Throws me gently where the silver water lies. For one bright moment, I touch the sun— Then sink below, where the darkness begun. Still the years go rolling by, Like rivers beneath a fading sky. I held the world, but nothing could stay, Not even me. Not even the clay. I was a mountain. I carried the sky. I watched the whole world live, And I watched it die.