|
|
Classic and Contemporary Poetry
ON SENESIS' MUMMY, by LEONIE ADAMS Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Then, too, when beauteous senesis Last Line: To drop as blossoms do apart? Alternate Author Name(s): Troy, William, Mrs. Subject(s): Mummies | |||
Then, too, when beauteous Senesis Lived, no lovely thing there was Much less mortal than a rose, And all dancing and all limbs Had their dark and mortal close. Lovers said then too of death How more than the worm's mouth was owing One that drew a flower of lust; And then there were no such churls to yield Delicacy like hers to dust. So perfect now and bodily She lies lapped in cedarwood. Her still breasts are garlanded, And a gilded mask is over Her cold, shapely, dreamless head. O quick thing left thus as death stilled her, O ebony-straight, the painted slaves Still all the ritual treasure bring. Their mournful antique bodies make A grave and lovely gesturing. Surely then too when Senesis Lived, life was a piercing thing; Bright life, on which long darkness wars; And living then, to their brimmed hearts Came a sweet wondering at stars. They learnt how soon the petals fall On Egypt's or on any waters; How being that suckles chilly fear Is lovelier so, and dearest beauty As brief a jewel as a tear. How with this wisdom would they leave her, A thousand and a thousand springs, Lying with a stony heart; Nor ever suffer her sweet breast To drop as blossoms do apart? | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE GRAUBALLE MAN by SEAMUS HEANEY THE TOLLUND MAN by SEAMUS HEANEY ADDRESS TO THE MUMMY AT BELZONI'S EXHIBITION by HORACE SMITH TOWARDS DEMOCRACY: PART 3. INSCRIBED ON A MUMMY CASE, BRITISH MUSEUM by EDWARD CARPENTER CLEOPATRA'S MUMMY; BRITISH MUSEUM, CASE NO. 6807 by FREDERIC ROWLAND MARVIN THE COURSE OF TIME: PROXIMITIES by ROBERT POLLOCK LOVE, WEEPING, LAID THIS SONG by LIZETTE WOODWORTH REESE FOR AN EGYPTIAN BOY, DIED C. 700 B.C. by MARY KELLEY BARON COUNTRY SUMMER by LEONIE ADAMS A GULL GOES UP by LEONIE ADAMS DEATH AND THE LADY; THEIR BARGAIN TOLD AGAIN by LEONIE ADAMS |
| |