Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, NOFERTETE, by CAROLINE SPARKS


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

NOFERTETE, by                    
First Line: In the land where ever-blooming lotus
Last Line: And reckon with closing petals of lotus flowers.
Subject(s): Egypt


In the land where ever-blooming lotus
Opens sleeping petals in opalescent dawn --
Spreading gentle leaves mid daybreak hues,
To bask ere long in ceremonial adoration,
Beneath the soft tints of Egyptian sunrise.
Where celestial light wends toward red dusk
And fades in the quiet hush of sunset skies.
Among golden bowls of wine's intemperate lusk,
One hears beyond the echo of repeating timbrels,
A lilt of simple song and peaceful dreaming.
Borne o'er the sands in desert's secret symbols;
Spanning eons on the breath of beauty's yearning;
The low sweet voice of Nofertete's silent call.
Her gracious hands reach out in evening hours,
To soothe the deep melancholy of nightfall,
And reckon with closing petals of lotus flowers.

Backward o'er drowsy sands to ancient day --
Memories live in dreams; Nofertete in reality.
Born, some say, of Egypt's noble Ty and Ay;
Others vow in truthfulness, of Ay not Ty.
Born we know of beauty rare and charm --
To live and love; forever to be loved.
Destined to reign beside King Ahknaton,
Over a land where legendary Gods had ruled.
Robed in purple's magnificent shimmering fold;
Veiled in gossamer's transparent web. While
Oriental pageantry, bathed in floods of gold,
Glistened on the shores of the enchanting Nile:
Nofertete! Egypt's Queen was crowned. Ere long
To kneel among the lotus in opalescent dawn;
To worship beauty there, and dream in even' song.
Beside the king to find her True Creator -- Aton.

Nofertete worshipped, and viewed the picture
Painted in the mind of her beloved Ahknaton.
Who saw a city created on a distant shore,
Where receding cliffs of stone: a plot had won;
A chosen lot on which he fancied vast temples,
Whose lofty pylons touched the blue of the sky;
And nearby desert sands where gravelled pebbles
Echoed the wheels of chariots whirling by.
There would be wisdom gained from pearls;
Visions of dreamers; harpsongs of vatum.
Creeds of strange gods and stranger worlds,
To challenge the haunting lips of Babylon
And equal the hills of Crete. There to stay
And worship Aton in the city of the horizon.
In Persian gardens and incensed groves of Araby,
Nofertete would reign anew beside Ahknaton.

Lo, a city of dreams -- on a distant shore,
Amid nature's cliffs; at the water's edge.
Picturesque wilderness, on a sloping moor,
Surrounded high walls. Within this hedge,
Gay laughter gave way to ceaseless chanting;
Invocations to Aton; peace in simple song.
Ahknaton prayed for strength -- yet unrelenting.
Beyond the city of the horizon, war clouds hung.
Avenger of past victories: faithless Aziru was
Watching proud empires crumble. All Asia heard
The helpless cries of Syria's suffering cause.
Alas, Egypt's king and queen in tombs -- interred.
O'er desert sands comes Nofertete's silent call.
Her gracious hands reached out in evening hours
To soothe the deep melancholy of nightfall,
And reckon with closing petals of lotus flowers.





Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!


Other Poems of Interest...
Home: PoetryExplorer.net