Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE DEATH OF ALEXANDER THE GREAT: 3. THEY TELL OF HIS DEATH, by HANIEL (CLARK) LONG


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE DEATH OF ALEXANDER THE GREAT: 3. THEY TELL OF HIS DEATH, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: To a land where goats are browsing
Last Line: Took his golden hair.
Subject(s): Alexander The Great (356-323 B.c.)


To a land where goats are browsing
And the crimson thistles are,
Alexander came carousing in a car.

Suddenly he ceased from laughter;
By his side the charioteer
In the silence that came after
Sank upon his knees with fear.

Alexander, king of kings,
Thought he heard the beat of wings;
Truths his tutor never taught him.
Came about him and besought him.

Alexander, king of kings,
Cast away his helm and greaves;
He could see within the leaves
Dancing shapes and lovely things.

There was fever in his breast,
And he acquiesced -
Left his car to rot and rust,
Went away from death and dust,

Went away from lust and lying,
Went to meadows and to streams
Where there's never need of dying -
Went to be a prince of dreams:

Left the wrongness and the rightness
Of the things we dare -
Took his beauty, took his brightness,
Took his golden hair.




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