MIOCENE PERIOD 
Recovered been : and Florida to be 200 
Still, as in Creta times, lies in the sea. 
High lands in Colorado now are seen, 
O'er which the sea in Creta times had been. 
Across their breasts are rills and rivers racing 
To lower levels ; carving and defacing 205 
The rocky mass. And great in time will be 
The sculpture work now in its infancy. 
Down through the plateau mass, by night and day, 
The streams will cut, as saws, their deeper way, 
Till from low levels gained, the caiioned land 210 
Will as some huddled hills converted stand. 
High rise the Rocky Mountains in the west, 
But huge volcanoes, never long at rest, 
Along the western slopes, in ruddy wrath, 
' Neath lurid dust-black skies, are pouring forth 215 
Vast streams of liquid rock. Luxuriant plains, 
As were let loose hordes led by Tamerlanes, 
Are overrun, and from the scoured lands 
Must life retreat, or perish where it stands. 
But room enough there is ; and far and wide 220 
In other parts, smiles Life in all her pride. 
Though with them vie the alders, oaks, and elms, 
And other migrants from the northern realms, 
Vast piny woods, with Giant Redwood trees. 
Still hold their own through regions measureless. 225 
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