CHISEL upon thine arch, great king, a knot Of captive slaves and many an agéd chief, With armour and the trophied spears in sheaf, Despoiléd ships, and festal altars hot. Whether thou be high-born or churl-begot, Thy lineage, honours, titles, long or brief, Engrave them on thy frieze or bas-relief, Lest in the time to come men know thee not. Time's fatal weapon shakes. Wouldst thou hand down The rumour of unconquerable renown? A weed shall rend the trophies of thy might; When all thy tale of marble pomp lies tumbled Some mower on grass-smothered stone shall smite And mar his blade upon thy glory humbled. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...SPOON RIVER ANTHOLOGY: THE UNKNOWN by EDGAR LEE MASTERS BRIGHTNESS AS A POIGNANT LIGHT by DAVID IGNATOW LET ME NOT LOSES MY DREAM by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON TO EMILIE BIGELOW HAPGOOD - PHILANTHROPIST by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON DOMESDAY BOOK: HENRY MURRAY by EDGAR LEE MASTERS SPOON RIVER ANTHOLOGY: IPPOLIT KONOVALOFF by EDGAR LEE MASTERS SPOON RIVER ANTHOLOGY: WILLIAM AND EMILY by EDGAR LEE MASTERS |