SPOIL of the tomb of kings, Snatched from the shadows solemn, Where the wide falcon-wings Brood o'er the pylon's column, Scarab (oh, blue of the artist Egyptian), How goes your curious carven inscription? Emblem of Life and Sun, How do its letters run? Spells it of magic and censers a-swing Ere you were vowed to my Lilian's ring? Tells it of girlish throng, Homage and graceful pose, if Pharaoh should chance along, Pharaoh who knew not Joseph? Down the dim coolness of corridors going, Out to the noon on his rose gardens glowing; Where by the fish-pond's brink Ibises coral-pink Stood in a sacred and somnolent row, Ages and ages and ages ago? Spoil of the pyramid Where the old shadows linger, Now as a mascot slid On to a dainty finger; If I might fathom the secret you fetter, Hazard each cryptical, long-ago letter, Emblem of Life that's gone, I would say, "Love lives on": Surely a proper and plausible thing, Since you are vowed to my Lilian's ring! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...ODE TO SPRING by ANNA LETITIA BARBAULD CYNTHIADES: TO CYNTHIA ON CONCEALMENT OF HER BEAUTY by FRANCIS KYNASTON I HEAR AMERICA SINGING by WALT WHITMAN THE WOODLANDS by WILLIAM BARNES WRITTEN, AT THE REQUEST OF A GENTLEMAN, UNDER A .. PICTURE by RICHARD BARNFIELD THE END OF THE WORLD by LOUISA SARAH BEVINGTON THE DEEPER FRIENDSHIP by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN |