THE BURDEN OF THE DESERT.
A PARAPHRASE.—Isaiah xxi.
I.
The burden of the Desert,
The Desert like the deep,
That from the south in whirlwinds
Comes rushing up the steep;—
I see the spoiler spoiling,
I hear the strife of blows;
Up, watchman, to thy heights, and say
How the dread conflict goes!
II.
What hear'st thou from the desert?—
“A sound, as if a world
Were from its axle lifted up
And to an ocean hurl'd;
The roaring as of waters,
The rushing as of hills,
And lo! the tempest-smoke and cloud,
That all the desert fills.”
III.
What seest thou on the desert?—
“A chariot comes,” he cried,
“With camels and with horsemen,
That travel by its side;
And now a lion darteth
From out the cloud, and he
Looks backward ever as he flies,
As fearing still to see!”
IV.
What, watchman, of the horsemen?—
“They come, and as they ride,
Their horses crouch and tremble,
Nor toss their manes in pride;
The camels wander scatter'd,
The horsemen heed them naught,
But speed, as if they dreaded still
The foe with whom they fought.”
V.
What foe is this, thou watchman?—
“Hark! Hark! the horsemen come;
Still looking on the backward path,
As if they fear'd a doom;
Their locks are white with terror,
Their very shout's a groan;
‘Babylon,’ they cry, ‘has fallen,
And all her gods are gone!’”
