178 . 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.