It was the Great Alexander, Capped with a golden helm, Sate in the ages, in his floating ship, In a dead calm. Voices of sea-maids singing Wandered across the deep: The sailors labouring on their oars Rowed, as in sleep. All the high pomp of Asia, Charmed by that siren lay, Out of their weary and dreaming minds, Faded away. Like a bold boy sate their Captain, His glamour withered and gone, In the souls of his brooding mariners, While the song pined on. Time, like a falling dew, Life, like the scene of a dream, Laid between slumber and slumber, Only did seem. . . . O Alexander, then, In all us mortals too, Wax thou not bold -- too bold On the wave dark-blue! Come the calm, infinite night, Who then will hear Aught save the singing Of the sea-maids clear? | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...SPRING STORM by WILLIAM CARLOS WILLIAMS THIRD BOOK OF AIRS: SONG 26. FIRST LOVE by THOMAS CAMPION IRELAND by WALTER SAVAGE LANDOR ALFRED THE HARPER by JOHN STERLING (1806-1844) THE ABBOT OF INISFALEN by WILLIAM ALLINGHAM THE FROGS: AN 'AESCHYLEAN' CHORUS by ARISTOPHANES THE TUTELAGE by ROBERT MOWRY BELL |