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.