Over Arabia's desert sands The patient camel walks; Mid lonely caves and rocky lands The fell hyaena stalks. On the cool and shady hills Coffee shrubs and tamarinds grow, Headlong fall the welcome rills Down the fruitful dells below. The fragrant myrrh and healing balm Perfume the passing gale; Thick hung with dates, the spreading palm Tow'rs o'er the people vale. Locusts oft, a living cloud, Hover in the darken'd air; Like a torrent dashing loud, Bringing famine and despair. And often o'er the level waste The stifling hot winds fly; Down falls the swain with trembling haste, The gasping cattle die. Shepherd people on the plain Pitch their tents and wander free; Wealthy cities they disdain, Poor, -- yet blest with liberty. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A LETTER TO HER HUSBAND, ABSENT UPON PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT by ANNE BRADSTREET THE BAY FIGHT by HENRY HOWARD BROWNELL TO THE MEMORY OF THE BRAVE AMERICANS UNDER GENERAL GREENE by PHILIP FRENEAU THE TRANSLATION by MARK VAN DOREN SEPTEMBER by MAVIS CLARE BARNETT LET US REASON TOGETHER by LEVI BISHOP |