MY heart was as a Roman palace fair With granite and rare marble, till a band Of ruthless passions bearing axe and brand Swept like barbarians to make havoc there. Then was there ruin and desolation where Dwelt owls and vipers on the barren land; Column and shard lay splintered on the sand, And the smooth pathway teemed with briar and tare. Thro' the unlighted day, the starless night Before my palace's disastrous plight Daunted, I stood alone and all uncheered, Till thou didst bring thy starlike self, O bride! Whereon to house our hallow'd love I reared An humble hut from ruins of my pride. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...I AM BORNE ONWARD by SARA TEASDALE MONUMENT MOUNTAIN by WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT ON LIVING, FROM LIFE IS A DREAM by PEDRO CALDERON DE LA BARCA HUMAN LIFE: ON THE DENIAL OF IMMORTALITY by SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE A THOUGHT IN TWO MOODS by THOMAS HARDY A CHRISTMAS CAROL, SUNG TO THE KING IN THE PRESENCE AT WHITEHALL by ROBERT HERRICK |