ONCE I loved, and my heart bowed down, Subject and slave, for Love was a King; He sat above with sceptre and crown, Turning his eyes from my sorrowing. The laugh of a god on his lips lay light -- His lips victorious that mocked my pain, And I mourned in the cold and the outer night, And my tears and my prayers were vain. Now the old spell is over and done, Myself I wear the ermine and gold, My brows are crowned, I ascend the throne, I have taken the sceptre and orb to hold. I smile victorious, set far above The music of voices that moan and pray, My feet are wet with the tears of love, And I turn my eyes away. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...VARIATIONS: 12 by CONRAD AIKEN THE ELEPHANT by HILAIRE BELLOC JONES'S PRIVATE ARGYMENT by SIDNEY LANIER TO CARMEN SYLVA (QUEEN OF ROUMANIA) by EMMA LAZARUS WITH BEST WISHES by DOROTHY PARKER |