Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE IVORY PALETTE (FROM THE VALLEY OF THE KINGS), by AGNES KENDRICK GRAY


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE IVORY PALETTE (FROM THE VALLEY OF THE KINGS), by                    
First Line: Safe from the fan of time's long winnowing
Last Line: The daughter of a king!
Subject(s): Paintings & Painters


Safe from the fan of time's long winnowing
Remains this treasured thing --
This cherished ivory palette of a child,
The daughter of a king!
And to oblivion unreconciled,
The little cakes of color, darkening,
Still to the ivory cling.

They sealed within the princess' painted tomb
Her childish treasures under Horus' wing;
Beneath the hieroglyphics in the room
Laid by her sandals, robe and ring,
Necklace and dolls and glimmering
Fresh lotus flowers,
To comfort her in those first lonely hours.
And lest she be confused
By shadow-fears and wander timorous,
They set beside her gold sarcophagus,
What she had clung to last -- her paints, half-used.

With these her little hands were fashioning
The pictures of her far Egyptian day,
-- Crude pyramid and palm and hawk on wing --
Before Osiris called her from her play.
And faithfully, to death unreconciled,
The yellowed palette waits her wakening,
This cherished ivory treasure of a child,
The daughter of a king!





Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!


Other Poems of Interest...
Home: PoetryExplorer.net