Page 87 - Viva Real English 4 : Ebook

And the simmering atmosphere,

But the shadow on the sand,

The shadow of the camel on the sand;

All alone as I ride,

Over the desert’s ocean wide,

It is ever at my side;

It haunts me, it pursues me, if I flee or if I stand.

Not a sound

All around

Save the padded beat and bound

Of the camel on the sand

Of the feet of the camel on the sand.

Not a bird is in the air,

Though the sun, with burning stare,

Is prying everywhere,

Over the yellow thirsty desert, so

Desolately grand.

William Wetmore Story

simmering : very hot padded : dull (sound)
haunts : keeps following like a ghost bound : jump

pursues : follows stare : continuous and fixed look
fl ee : escape prying : looking impolitely

save : (here) except desolately grand : empty, sad and
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