Classic Poem

The Monk Arnulphus uncorked his ink
— That shone with a blood-red light
Just now as the sun began to sink;
— His vellum was pumiced a silvery white;
" The Basileus " — for so he began —
" Is a royal sagacious Mars of a man,
— Than the very lion bolder;
He has married the stately widow of Thrace — "
— " Hush! " cried a voice at his shoulder.

His palette gleamed with a burnished green,
— Bright as a dragon-fly's skin:
His gold-leaf shone like the robe of a queen,
— His azure glowed as a cloud worn thin,
Deep as the blue of the king-whale's lair:
" The Porphyrogenita Zoi the fair
— Is about to wed with a Prince much older,
Of an unpropitious mien and look — "
— " Hush! " cried a voice at his shoulder.

The red flowers trellised the parchment page,
— The birds leaped up on the spray,
The yellow fruit swayed and drooped and swung,
— It was Autumn mixed up with May.
(O, but his cheek was shrivelled and shrunk!)
" The child of the Basileus, " wrote the Monk,
— " Is golden-haired — tender the Queen's arms fold her.
Her step-mother Zoi doth love her so — "
— " Hush! " cried a voice at his shoulder.

The Kings and Martyrs and Saints and Priests
— All gathered to guard the text:
There was Daniel snug in the lions' den
— Singing no whit perplexed —
Brazen Samson with spear and helm —
" The Queen, " wrote the Monk, " rules firm this realm,
— For the King gets older and older.
The Norseman Thorkill is brave and fair — "
— " Hush! " cried a voice at his shoulder.