WANDERER, behold Life's riddle writ in stone, Fronting Eternity with lidless eyes; Of all that is beneath the changing skies, Immutably abiding and alone. The handiwork of hands unseen, unknown, When Pharaohs of immortal dynasties Built Pyramids to brave the centuries, Cheating Annihilation of her own. The heart grows hushed before it. Nay, methinks That Man, and all on which Man wastes his breath, The World, and all the World inheriteth, With infinite, inexorable links Grappling the soul; that love, hate, birth and death Dwindle to nothingness before thee -- Sphinx. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...TO A LADY WHO HAD OFFERED HIM A WREATH OF LAUREL by GEORGE SANTAYANA HOPEFULLY WAITING by ANSON DAVIES FITZ RANDOLPH TO THE MEMORY OF H-- M-- by BERNARD BARTON SCENES FROM THE MAGICO PRODIGIOSO by PEDRO CALDERON DE LA BARCA SAILING HOMEWARD by CHAN FANG-SHENG THE PANG MORE SHARP THAN ALL; AN ALLEGORY by SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE |