As I went up toward Lebanon, The turbaned guardian of the gate Glowered at me like the face of Fate, As if to say -- "thou Christian cur, In Allah's name, where goest thou?" I gave my Arab steed the spur, Drew eager breath, and bared my brow To greet the scepter of the sun, While ardor thrilled me like a vow As I went up toward Lebanon. As I went up toward Lebanon, A crooning wind came creeping down From the great cedared mountain's crown, And shook the citron and the lime Until their attared blossoms fell As softly as a woven rhyme Whose measure is inaudible; With murmurous ripple and with run The voice of Barada kept time As I went up toward Lebanon. As I went up toward Lebanon, I passed where drowsy Bessima lies In its pomegranate paradise; The path before me stretched afar, And I, ascending, seemed to see, Above bright cliffs of cinnabar, White heights that touched infinity, And vintage raptures to be won Where terraced grapes gleamed goldenly As I went up toward Lebanon. As I went up toward Lebanon, A lingering look behind I cast As one might pause to view the Past. The slim Bride's Minaret like a spear Pierced the blue distance of the sky, And faintly falling on my ear Was borne a lone muezzin's cry. Beyond, a web-like waste was spun -- The desert parching to the eye, As I went up toward Lebanon. As I went up toward Lebanon, I dreamed the olden dream again Of Saladin and Tamerlaine. As though upon a painted screen I marked the ancient pomp unfurl, Where, in its garden-close of green, Vocal with nightingale and merle, In loveliness surpassed by none, Damascus glimmered like a pearl As I went up toward Lebanon. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...FLOWER GUIDANCE by ROBERT FROST A PROBLEM IN AESTHETICS by KAREN SWENSON TO THE UNKNOWN EROS: BOOK 1: 16. A FAREWELL by COVENTRY KERSEY DIGHTON PATMORE EPODE: 2. THE PRAISES OF A COUNTRY LIFE by QUINTUS HORATIUS FLACCUS A BIT OF MULL by FREDERICK HENRY HERBERT ADLER |