THE POET ON AGRADINA

The spacious cities hummed with toil:

The monarch reared his towers to the skies;

Men delved the fruitful soil

And studied to be wise;

Along the highway's rocky coil

The mailed legions rang;

Smiling unheeded‘ mid the moil,

The Poet sang.

The glittering cities long are heaps:

The starry towers lie level with the plain;

The desert serpent sleeps

Where soared the marble fane;

The stealthy, bead-eyed lizard creeps

Where gleamed the tyrant's throne;

The grandeur dark oblivion steeps:

The song sings on.