MY heart was as a Roman palace fair With granite and rare marble, till a band Of ruthless passions bearing axe and brand Swept like barbarians to make havoc there. Then was there ruin and desolation where Dwelt owls and vipers on the barren land; Column and shard lay splintered on the sand, And the smooth pathway teemed with briar and tare. Thro' the unlighted day, the starless night Before my palace's disastrous plight Daunted, I stood alone and all uncheered, Till thou didst bring thy starlike self, O bride! Whereon to house our hallow'd love I reared An humble hut from ruins of my pride. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...DIRGE FOR A SOLDIER [SEPTEMBER 1, 1862] by GEORGE HENRY BOKER AFTER WINTER by STERLING ALLEN BROWN THE DAY IS DONE by PHOEBE CARY INVOCATION TO SLEEP by THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH THE ENGINE by ALEXANDER ANDERSON MORE WALKS by RICHARD HARRIS BARHAM COMMENDATORY VERSES TO WILLIAM BROWNE'S 'BRITANNIA'S PASTORALS' by WILLIAM BASSE |