The passage from Cormac McCarthy's "The Crossing" highlights the fragile and transient nature of existence, symbolized by the small sands in the desolate landscape. The wind's relentless movement of these grains illustrates a cycle of change and the quest for stability amidst chaos. The imagery evokes a sense of continual migration and a struggle against the vastness of the surrounding world.

Moreover, McCarthy suggests that even in the minutiae of life, there is a desire for permanence. The sands, constantly shifting, represent the eternal uncertainty and dynamism of life. In their granulation, they embody the interconnectedness of all things as they seek a moment of stillness in a universe that is perpetually in motion.