 | Phantasmagoria |  |
54
The Ethiopian Forest.
In the golden tropic, in the gorgeous glory
Of the Afric forest, choked with scarlet bloom,
Where the banyans build from storey out to storey
Their gigantic palaces of gloom,
Where great serpents round the palm-stems tangled
Wear their green and gold enamelled mail
And bright hum-birds iridescent spangled
Flutter on the gale,
Of the Afric forest, choked with scarlet bloom,
Where the banyans build from storey out to storey
Their gigantic palaces of gloom,
Where great serpents round the palm-stems tangled
Wear their green and gold enamelled mail
And bright hum-birds iridescent spangled
Flutter on the gale,
Where the tigers growl, and gaudy parrots chatter,
Mid the orchids and the flowering parasite,
Where the almond trees their tender blossoms scatter,
Shedding rain of petals pink and white,
Where the elephant through the jungle crashing
Frights with pealing trumpet the dense brake,
Where the river-horse to shoreward plashing
Scares the water-snake;
Mid the orchids and the flowering parasite,
Where the almond trees their tender blossoms scatter,
Shedding rain of petals pink and white,
Where the elephant through the jungle crashing
Frights with pealing trumpet the dense brake,
Where the river-horse to shoreward plashing
Scares the water-snake;
There the soul would picture in luxurious dreaming
Temples, airy structures of fair fantasy,
Red globes making luminous with their crimson beaming
Fabulous palaces of ivory,
Garden terraces by steps of marble paving
Sloping down to waters green and dim,
Where tall queens with tresses gold and waving
Revel with white limb.
Temples, airy structures of fair fantasy,
Red globes making luminous with their crimson beaming
Fabulous palaces of ivory,
Garden terraces by steps of marble paving
Sloping down to waters green and dim,
Where tall queens with tresses gold and waving
Revel with white limb.
May 1st, 1886.
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