Frowning over the riddle that Daniel told, <br />Down through the mist hung garden, below a feeble sun, <br />The King of Persia walked: oh, the chilling cold! <br />His mind was webbed with a grey shroud vapour-spun. <br /> <br />Here for the pride of his soaring eagle heart, <br />Here for his great hand searching the skies for food, <br />Here for his courtship of Heaven's high stars he shall smart, <br />Nebuchadnezzar shall fall, crawl, be subdued. <br /> <br />Hot sun struck through the vapour, leaf strewn mould <br />Breathed sweet decay: old Earth called for her child. <br />Mist drew off from his mind, Sun scattered gold, <br />Warmth came and earthy motives fresh and wild. <br /> <br />Down on his knees he sinks, the stiff-necked King, <br />Stoops and kneels and grovels, chin to the mud. <br />Out from his changed heart flutter on startled wing <br />The fancy birds of his Pride, Honour, Kinglihood. <br /> <br />He crawls, he grunts, he is beast-like, frogs and snails <br />His diet, and grass, and water with hand for cup. <br />He herds with brutes that have hooves and horns and tails, <br />He roars in his anger, he scratches, he looks not up.<br /><br />Robert Graves<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/nebuchadnezzar-s-fall/
