. Here, sown by the Creator's hand. In serried ranks, the Redwoods stand: No other clime is honored so, No other lands their glory know. The greatest of Earth's living forms, Tall conquerors that laugh at storms; Their challenge still unanswered rings, Through fifty centuries of kings. The nations that with them were young, Rich empires, with their forts far-flung, Lie buried now-their splendor gone: But these proud monarchs still live on. So shall they live, when ends our days, When our crude citadels decay; For brief the years allotted man, But infinite perennials' span. This is their temple, vaulted high, And here, we pause with reverent eye, With silent tongue and awestruck soul; For here we sense life's proper goal: To be like these, straight, true and fine, to make our world like theirs, a shrine; Sink down, Oh, traveler, on your knees, God stands before you in these trees. -Joseph P. Strauss, The Redwoods, 1931 . #fatheroftheforest #bigbasinredwoodsstatepark #santacruzmountains #california #coastalredwoods #redwoods #josephstrauss #quotes #poem #selfie #photooftheday #outdoorphotography #selftimer #massive #tall #old #firststatepark #redwoodnaturetrail #bayarea #hiking #wander #getoutside #optoutside #dontwastetheweekend #beautiful #canonphotography (at Big Basin Redwoods State Park)
