SPOIL of the tomb of kings, Snatched from the shadows solemn, Where the wide falcon-wings Brood o'er the pylon's column, Scarab (oh, blue of the artist Egyptian), How goes your curious carven inscription? Emblem of Life and Sun, How do its letters run? Spells it of magic and censers a-swing Ere you were vowed to my Lilian's ring? Tells it of girlish throng, Homage and graceful pose, if Pharaoh should chance along, Pharaoh who knew not Joseph? Down the dim coolness of corridors going, Out to the noon on his rose gardens glowing; Where by the fish-pond's brink Ibises coral-pink Stood in a sacred and somnolent row, Ages and ages and ages ago? Spoil of the pyramid Where the old shadows linger, Now as a mascot slid On to a dainty finger; If I might fathom the secret you fetter, Hazard each cryptical, long-ago letter, Emblem of Life that's gone, I would say, "Love lives on": Surely a proper and plausible thing, Since you are vowed to my Lilian's ring! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...DON JUAN: DEDICATION [OR, INVOCATION] by GEORGE GORDON BYRON TELL'S BIRTHPLACE by SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE THE MAYFLOWERS by JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER TWO SONNETS FROM NEW YORK: TOWERS by ADELAIDE NICHOLS BAKER HINTS OF AN HISTORICAL PLAY TO BE CALLED WILLIAM RUFUS by RICHARD HARRIS BARHAM LINES ADAPTED TO A FAVOURITE MILITARY AIR by JAMES HAY BEATTIE |