There was, before me,

mile upon mile

of snow, ice, burning sand.

And yet I could look beyond all this,

to a place of infinite beauty;

and I could see the loveliness of her

who walked in the shade of the trees.

When I gazed,

all was lost

but this place of beauty and her.

When I gazed,

and in my gazing, desired,

then came again

mile upon mile,

of snow, ice, burning sand.

(Stephen Crane)