Building on the Sand

by Eliza Cook

Source of witness transcribed: Edgefield Advertiser (Edgefield, South Carolina)

Date of witness transcribed: 11 August 1852

Notes about this poem: "Building on the Sand" was printed in at least 189 newspapers during the nineteenth century. It can be found using ID 386390 in this table of most widely-reprinted poems.

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• ‘Tis well to woo, ‘tis well to wed,
• For so the world has done
• Since myrtles grew, and roses blew,

• And morning brought the sun.

• But have a care, ye young and fair—
• Be sure ye pledge with truth,
• Be certain that your love will wear

• Beyond the days of youth.

• For, if ye give not heart for heart,
• As well as hand for hand,
• You’ll find you’ve played the unwise part

• And “built upon the sand.”

• ‘Tis well to save, ‘tis well to have
• A goodly store of gold,
• And hold enough of the shining stuff,

• For charity is cold.

• But place not all your hopes and trust
• In what the deep mine brings;
• We cannot live on yellow dust

• Unmixed with purer things.

• And he who piles up wealth alone,
• Will often have to stand
• Beside his coffer chest, and own

• ‘Tis “built upon the sand.”

• ‘Tis good to speak in kindly guise,
• And soothe where’er we can;
• Fair speech should bind the human mind

• And love link man to man.

• But stay not at the gentle words,
• Let deeds with language dwell,
• The one who pities starving birds,

• Should scatter crumbs as well.

• The mercy that is warm and true
• Must lend a helping hand,
• For those who talk, yet fail to do,
• But “build upon the sand.”