THE jackals prowl, the serpents hiss In what was once Persepolis. Proud Babylon is but a trace Upon the desert's dusty face. The topless towers of Ilium Are ashes. Judah's harp is dumb. The fleets of Nineveh and Tyre Are down with Davy Jones, Esquire And all the oligarchies, kings, And potentates that ruled these things Are gone! But cheer up; don't be sad; Think what a lovely time they had! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...DEEP IN THE QUIET WOOD by JAMES WELDON JOHNSON DOMESDAY BOOK: FINDING OF THE BODY by EDGAR LEE MASTERS THE SHAPE OF THE CORONER by WALLACE STEVENS APOLOGIA PRO VITA SUA by SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE BROTHER AND SISTER by MARY ANN EVANS JEST 'FORE CHRISTMAS by EUGENE FIELD FITZ-GREENE HALLECK, AT THE UNVEILING OF HIS STATUE by JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER |