Classic Poem

CLEOPATRA

Beneath a glorious light, that fondly lies
On ruined temples, and wide sweeping sand,
The Nile, gold fretted, lingers through the land.
Once, long ago, your eager, hungry eyes,
With youth's glad wonder, sought the purple skies,
Across the fields where graceful palm-trees stand,
And saw the pyramids, superbly grand,
Silent and massive from the desert rise.
Then mighty fleets, alight with gleaming steel,
And veteran legions rich in wealth of scars,
Were freely offered for your rapturous kiss:
Your luring smiles made earth's vast empires reel,
And when your eyes shone out like cloud-set stars,
Heaven had no light could make men turn from this.