The Shadow of the Obelisk

This is a collection of poems by Thomas William Parsons, published by Hatchards, London in 1872. The volume features fifty-three poems addressing themes of classical antiquity, landscape, love, commemoration, and literary appreciation. The title poem, "The Shadow of the Obelisk," uses an Egyptian obelisk's shadow in Rome as a meditation on the ephemerality of human glory and empire. "December Fourteenth," commemorating Prince Albert's death, contrasts prayers from diverse religious communities across the British Empire. "The Last Gentian" personifies an autumn flower bidding farewell before winter. "Guido's Aurora," set in the Rospigliosi Palace, reimagines the classical goddess of dawn through baroque painting. Other poems address fellow poets (Longfellow, Lowell, Burns), historical figures (Dante, Steuart), landscapes (Hudson River, Sorrento), and occasions of loss and remembrance. The collection reflects Parsons' engagement with European art, classical literature, and Anglo-American literary circles.