Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE BURIAL IN THE DESERT, by FELICIA DOROTHEA HEMANS


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE BURIAL IN THE DESERT, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: In the shadow of the pyramid
Last Line: A field of death surveyed.
Alternate Author Name(s): Browne, Felicia Dorothea
Subject(s): Funerals; Sahara Desert; Burials


IN the shadow of the Pyramid
Our brother's grave we made,
When the battle-day was done,
And the desert's parting sun
A field of death surveyed.

The blood-red sky above us
Was darkening into night,
And the Arab watching silently
Our sad and hurried rite;

The voice of Egypt's river
Came hollow and profound;
And one lone palm-tree, where we stood,
Rocked with a shivery sound:

While the shadow of the Pyramid
Hung o'er the grave we made,
When the battle-day was done,
And the desert's parting sun
A field of death surveyed.

The fathers of our brother
Were borne to knightly tombs,
With torch-light and with anthem-note,
And many waving plumes:

But he, the last and noblest
Of that high Norman race,
With a few brief words of soldier-love
Was gathered to his place;

In the shadow of the Pyramid,
Where his youthful form we laid,
When the battle-day was done,
And the desert's parting sun
A field of death surveyed.

But let him, let him slumber
By the old Egyptian wave!
It is well with those who bear their fame
Unsullied to the grave!

When brightest names are breathed on,
When loftiest fall so fast,
We would not call our brother back
On dark days to be cast, --

From the shadow of the Pyramid,
Where his noble heart we laid,
When the battle-day was done,
And the desert's parting sun
A field of death surveyed.





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