When I had sprung awake on Misr’s shore
From sleep that had been cradled by the Nile
I felt that I had dreamed here once before
A devot of Sobek the Crocodile
One dawn the Queen herself had passed my way
I took my chance to view her Grecian face
Entrapped in Re-Harakhte’s greeting ray
The doyenne of the Ptolemaic race
I could not bow but stood in utter awe
Of her whom I had only seen in stone
A quality of virgin and of whore
As soon upon a bed as on a throne
My dream is fading and my words are poor
Beside the golden art of Joadoor
Author notes
The poem is an English Sonnet. Misr is the ancient (and modern) name of Egypt; Re-Harakhte literally translates as "Ra Horus-on-the-horizon". Joadoor is the name used by two Dutch artists who produced the painting of Cleopatra seen at the head of the poem.
Written March 23rd, 2006
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What did you think
Comments
1 - 44 of 44
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The art is golden, but then, greatest poet, so are your words. And now the words are mine to keep for ever, the painting I have never seen.
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I was doing a run of painting-based sonnets at the time. I think I was suffering from a kind of monomania!
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No reply is needed. Your poem was excellent!
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Well thank you, Bride. What can I say in reply?
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WOW. This is absolutely stunning. My friend Michael (Eusebius) pointed this direction to me and i'm sure glad he did! This piece is so descriptive. I absolutely love this poem. The detail and structure is perfect, so is the rhyming and rhythm. Definately a piece to be proud of! I must bookmark this! Brilliant work!
Kitty xxx -
Well thank you, Ellis. It's another of my English sonnets.
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Excellent Writing
Fully rhyming poetry is my favorite style, so although I know little of the subject matter, I love the poem since this type is few and far between finding. --Ellis -
Lovely thought, Melodies, except I believe the photo depicts her in death. But she looks asleep. Thank you for visiting, and for your kind comments.
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Beautiful, as always!
Like going somewhere special, is reading this lovely poem. I tiptoed in and now I am tiptoeing out, so as not to awaken this beautiful lady in the picture.
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broad-and-fait, thank you for dropping in. Glad you liked the poem. Thanks for the kind comments.
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Beautiful inages created by your very talented pen.Original,and that in itself made it worth the read!Loved it--fair
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Only by virtue of our love of the sonnet.
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Oh, I can't imagine him being horrible in any way. But how are you related?
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FibreGlass, thanks for dropping by, and for the kind comment. Eusebius is horrible biased, I'm afraid.
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I really like this! My friend Eusebius directed me to this poem, and I am very glad he did so. I like your style and the imagery you conjure up is awesome.
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Thanks for the extra historical details Di. Glad you enjoyed it.
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Wow! Vyanna - really? Thanks for the visit.
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This is alright ...not really my fav type of poem but I like the part were you call cleopatra a whore lol that's funny shit...Keep writing...~Z
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Hi, very nice incorparating two of the Egyptian gods, a very nice write, would like to see a follow up sonnet her adventures would raisean eyebrow or two, not a good looking woman as the film makers who have her but she had a great brain, spoke 7 languages, had wit, I doubt if there was great love between her and MA he was a drunken uncouth man,anyway less of this and more on your poem, great feel, good flow, good detail, it is a winner, all the best, hugs Di
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you did a very good job on this. i actually know a girl who is a direct decendant of cleopatra and she is very beautiful. i thought about her as i read this. i am glad that i did. viyanna r langager
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Many thanks, hoodoolover.
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Excellent
Very cool write here, a worthy subject as well, great job! -
Shukrun, Elizabeth - thank you for all your kind words. I am glad you liked the poem.
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Egypt like an old lady covering herself with
Excellent with the references to History and Myth.Seductive imagery of a lady reputed to have worn the most exotic perfumes and make up available at the time.Anthony did dance to her snake like charm.I live in Amman jordan Middle East so this poem strikes a chord.Brilliant,Poet.Elizabeth. -
A pleasure to share, IamMEg. Thanks for your kind comments.
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Nicely done - good form; the rhyme works - and it flows smoothly. I enjoyed the imagery - good work - thanks for sharing!
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Chick - I'll keep it up as long as my old pen deosn't rust!
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Estarla - I am glad you enjoyed it.
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I am glad you liked it Littleone61 - my word, the reactions are coming thick and fast tonight.
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Great.....
hey thats really nice and you keep up the good work...... -
Thank you, Bonzo.
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cool i like cleopatra.
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Southern Belle, I'm glad you liked it.
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Thank you Cupcrazy - I will try.
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I love Egypt and that whole time period is intruiging. A beautiful poem you have written. It has a very nice flow to it. Good job.
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I am amazed when someone can write about history and make it poetic at the same time. And I love allusion. Great job.
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Very good, not my sort of thing but very well writen and compossed in such a way to impress me all the same!
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Thank goodness someone else on this site <3's history like I do! This was a beautiful poem and I loved the imagery. You got the facts right too (a lot of people don't, so congrats!
) Overall an amazing write that is definatly going in my favs.
Belle
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Very beautifully penned. Such wonderful images of ancient splendour. It is enchanting and quite captivating in its lure. truly great write. Keep your pen forever flowing!
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{blushing crimson} I am glad you approve, sweet sister Moon Fae.
Yours aye,
M. -
Beautifully penned ... another enchanting vision from my silver tongued enchantress.
These lines are most divine
I could not bow but stood in utter awe
Of her whom I had only seen in stone
A quality of virgin and of whore
As soon upon a bed as on a throne -
{Goodness! I think he means me!}
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Superb
Beauty, mystery, unattainable love, dream and the conjuration of the lush and lapidary Ptolemaic age of ancient Egypt, replete with Sobek and a variation of Ra or Ammon-Ra, all this written by the expert hand of a true literary sorceress. The poem is captivating, enchanting and enchanted, its spell is wistfully beautiful and unutterably sad. I love it!
Edited on Mar 23, 12:55 because 'spelling'.
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