Cleopatra's Needle by Felix Leigh — Read

Upon the broad Embankment

You'll find a curious sight, -- / The children play around it / From morning until night; / And crowds of grown-up people / Come here to see it too, / 'Tis Cleopatra's Needle / Folks gather thus to view.

In Mother's pretty work-box / There's no such needle shown; / This needle, brought from Egypt, / Is nothing but a stone. / How silently it watches / Old Thames go gliding by! / "You're very old," the River says, / "But not so old as I."

Think you it longs for Egypt, / This wondrous solemn stone, / That stands and gazes at us / Each day so sad and lone? / Ah yes! when London's sleeping, / If monuments can dream, / It longs for Egypt's palm-trees, / And Nile's slow murmuring stream.