YE glorious sons of Egypt's royal race, Look on this quiet guest that shrouded lies. Once pain and joy disturbed that peaceful face; A woman's lips once pressed those buried eyes. As he did once, drink deep thine earthly bliss -- Yet a few years and thou shalt be like this. In crimson cloud slow sinks the hot, red sun; The glassy Nile refloats the ruddy gleam And faint sweet songs across the shadows run Where slumber-closed the lotos lilies dream. The world is beauty -- death a dark abyss. Yet a few years and thou shalt be like this. The eager heart that leaps against thine own, Her eyes on thee like darkling fires that shine, The tremulous joy that throbs through blood and bone -- But for a little while these things are thine. Take while thou may'st that poppy-laden kiss -- Yet a few years and thou shalt be like this. The mighty guardians of the outer vast -- Osiris, Isis, Horus and the rest -- Ere thy first breath ordained and knew thy last. Shall woman-born escape their dread behest? The bow is drawn -- nor shall that arrow miss. Yet a few years and thou shalt be like this. Then crown the bowl! Let pour the laughing wine And song and laughter ring from hall to hall! Thine age is mortal; make thy youth divine, For this grim banqueter doth say to all: "Thine is the hour. Thine own the moment is -- Yet a few years and thou shalt be like this!" | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE SITTING by CECIL DAY LEWIS I LOOKED FOR LIFE AND DID A SHADOW SEE by JAMES GALVIN QUEST by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON WE FACE THE FUTURE by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON DOMESDAY BOOK: LOVERIDGE CHASE by EDGAR LEE MASTERS THE FOUR BROTHERS by CARL SANDBURG ESSAY: AT NIGHT THE AUTOPORTRAIT AT NIGHT by ELENI SIKELIANOS |