World Poetry Day – Ozymandias by Percy Bysshe Shelley

To celebrate World Poetry Day, I decided to post my favorite poem.

Ozymandias by Percy Bysshe Shelley

I met a traveller from an antique land,
Who said—“Two vast and trunkless legs of stone
Stand in the desert. . . . Near them, on the sand,
Half sunk a shattered visage lies, whose frown,
And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command,
Tell that its sculptor well those passions read
Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things,
The hand that mocked them, and the heart that fed;
And on the pedestal, these words appear:
My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings;
Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!
Nothing beside remains. Round the decay
Of that colossal Wreck, boundless and bare
The lone and level sands stretch far away.”

This is my favorite poem for a couple of reasons. First of all, it tells a story. It tells the story of Ozymandias, who is thought to be the Egyptian Pharaoh Ramses the Great. Many people suspects that Ramses was the Egyptian king that faced off against Moses in the Book of Exodus in the Bible.

The second reason is the meaning of the poem. There is widespread speculation on the meaning of the piece. Personally, I think it is a description of how evil just ends. Ramses enslaved the Hebrew children. He was stubborn, hard-hearted, and thought he was a god. Yet, people very remember him. That is a satisfying ending.

What do you think? Which poem is your favorite? Let me know in the comments below. While you are at it, check out my article on why social media platforms are hurting themselves. Read it here. Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe for more posts like this one.

You can find me on everywhere on social media! Facebook: Author Jacob Airey | Patreon: Click Here|Instagram: real.jacob.airey | Twitter: @realJacobAirey | YouTube: StudioJake

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