This Once Was an Empire

This once was an empire
This once was the sea
This once was the mountain
That came to you and me

This once was the island
This once was the shore
Everything that is to come
And all that went before

This once was a cloud
This once was the land
This once was an ancient ruin
Buried in the sand

This once was the end
This once was the dream
What I hoped to find
But never did see