THE BURNING OF THE TEMPLE

Fierce wrath of Solomon,

Where sleepest thou? O see,

The fabric which thou won

Earth and ocean to give thee—

O look at the red skies.

Or hath the sun plunged down?

What is this molten gold—

These thundering fires blown

Through heaven, where the smoke rolled?

Again the great king dies.

His dreams go out in smoke.

His days he let not pass

And sculptured here are broke,

Are charred as the burnt grass,

Gone as his mouth’s last sighs.