Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, EGYPT, by ALFRED TENNYSON


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

EGYPT, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: The sombre pencil of the dim-grey dawn
Last Line: Gilded at morn, and purpled them at even!
Alternate Author Name(s): Tennyson, Lord Alfred; Tennyson, 1st Baron; Tennyson Of Aldworth And Farringford, Baron
Subject(s): Egypt


THE sombre pencil of the dim-grey dawn
Draws a faint sketch of Egypt to mine eye,
As yet uncolour'd by the brilliant morn,
And her gay orb careering up the sky.

And see! at last he comes in radiant pride,
Life in his eye, and glory in his ray;
No veiling mists his growing splendour hide,
And hang their gloom around his golden way.

The flowery region brightens in his smile,
Her lap of blossoms freights the passing gale,
That robs the odours of each balmy isle,
Each fragrant field and aromatic vale.

But the first glitter of his rising beam
Falls on the broad-bas'd pyramids sublime,
As proud to show us with his earliest gleam,
Those vast and hoary enemies of time.

E'en History's self, whose certain scrutiny
Few eras in the list of Time beguile,
Pauses, and scans them with astonish'd eye,
As unfamiliar with their aged pile.

Awful, august, magnificent, they tower
Amid the waste of shifting sands around;
The lapse of year and month and day and hour,
Alike unfelt, perform th' unwearied round.

How often hath you day-god's burning light,
From the clear sapphire of his stainless heaven,
Bath'd their high peaks in noontide brilliance bright,
Gilded at morn, and purpled them at even!







Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!


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