ANCIENT of Days! Before the Trojan Wars You towered as now in your colossal prime, Watching the rosy footed morning climb O'er far Arabia's flushing mountain bars. Despite your weird disfigurement and scars You dwarf all other monuments. Sublime Survivors of old Thebes! you baffle Time, And sit in silent conclave with the Stars. Ah, once below you through the glittering plain Stretched avenues of Sphinxes to the Nile; And, flanked with towers, each consecrated fane Enshrined its god. The broken gods lie prone In roofless halls, their hallowed terrors gone, Helpless beneath Heaven's penetrating smile. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE EVENING WIND by WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT A BOOK OF AIRS: SONG 2 by THOMAS CAMPION AN INVOCATION; SONG, FR. REMORSE by SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE NICHOLAS NYE by WALTER JOHN DE LA MARE TO YOUTH by WALTER SAVAGE LANDOR SESTINA: ALTAFORTE by EZRA POUND |