To a land where goats are browsing And the crimson thistles are, Alexander came carousing in a car. Suddenly he ceased from laughter; By his side the charioteer In the silence that came after Sank upon his knees with fear. Alexander, king of kings, Thought he heard the beat of wings; Truths his tutor never taught him. Came about him and besought him. Alexander, king of kings, Cast away his helm and greaves; He could see within the leaves Dancing shapes and lovely things. There was fever in his breast, And he acquiesced - Left his car to rot and rust, Went away from death and dust, Went away from lust and lying, Went to meadows and to streams Where there's never need of dying - Went to be a prince of dreams: Left the wrongness and the rightness Of the things we dare - Took his beauty, took his brightness, Took his golden hair. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...PORTRAIT OF A MOTOR CAR by CARL SANDBURG SONNET ON FAME (2) by JOHN KEATS ON THE EXTINCTION OF THE VENETIAN REPUBLIC by WILLIAM WORDSWORTH EMBLEMS OF LOVE: 23. SOONER WOUNDED THAN CURED by PHILIP AYRES SONNET: 2 by GWENDOLYN B. BENNETT |