Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, IN THE DESERT, by HERMAN MELVILLE


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

IN THE DESERT, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Never pharaoh's night
Last Line: Shekinah intolerably bright!
Subject(s): Egypt; Sahara Desert


Never Pharaoh's Night,
Whereof the Hebrew wizards croon,
Did so the Theban flamens try
As me this veritable Noon.

Like blank ocean in blue calm
Undulates the ethereal frame;
In one flowing oriflamme
God flings his fiery standard out.

Battling with the Emirs fierce
Napoleon a great victory won,
Through and through his sword did pierce;
But, bayonetted by this sun
His gunners drop beneath the gun.

Holy, holy, holy Light!
Immaterial incandescence,
Of God the effluence of the essence,
Shekinah intolerably bright!





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