Memnon

When I was a burst of thunder Born on the Nubian cliffs, And the sands flashed white in wonder, And in Khem the curious glyphs Shone out from the cavern-tombs On the huddled bats in the glooms, ’Mid the great stone kings I rumbled That sit by the river-brinks, And my sand-clouds eddied and tumbled Round the old stare of the Sphinx; Then with harsh-throated cries I burst on Memnon’s eyes. The force of me made no quiver In that earth-ancient gaze; I felt my raging shiver And shrink to desert-haze, And heard in the dawning gold The stillness of music old.