Maiden with the dreaming eyes, Thou didst never watch the Nile; And the blue Boeotian skies On thy birthplace did not smile. But the Sphinx, who formed thy ways, Left thee heiress of her art, Taught those questions that now raise Terrors in thy lover's heart. "Who will tell the dream I see, Write the song my heart-beats sing? He revealing this to me, When he comes shall be my king." Woe to him who mumbleth here, Words that are unmeaning breath. Woe to him! Let dreadful fear Hold his steps -- they lead to death. And the Sphinx with starry eyes, Saldly sees the sons of men Round her pathway fall and die. How can she be but maiden then? | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE MOTHER by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON PLANKED WHITEFISH by CARL SANDBURG THE CRYSTAL CABINET by WILLIAM BLAKE LINES WRITTEN IN THE ALBUM AT ELBINGERODE, IN HARTZ FOREST by SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE FOR THE BAPTIST by WILLIAM DRUMMOND OF HAWTHORNDEN THE DESERTED PLANTATION by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR THE TEMPER (1) by GEORGE HERBERT THE MAID'S LAMENT; ELIZABETHAN by WALTER SAVAGE LANDOR ALONZO THE BRAVE AND THE FAIR IMOGINE by MATTHEW GREGORY LEWIS |