GOD, that heaven's seven climates hath spread forth, To every creature, even as is the worth, The lot apportions, and the use of things. If to the creeping cat were given wings No sparrow's egg would ever be a bird. Moses the Prophet, who with God conferred, Beheld a Dervish, that, for dire distress And lack of clothes to hide his nakedness Buried his body in the desert sand. This Dervish cried: "O Moses, whom the Hand Of the Most High God favors! make thy prayer That he may grant me food and clothes to wear Who knows the misery of me and the need." Then Moses prayed to God, that he would feed And clothe that Dervish. Nine days after this, Returning from Mount Sinai in bliss, Having beheld God's face, the Prophet met The Dervish in the hands of Justice, set Between two officers; and all about The rabble followed him with hoot and shout And jeer. The Prophet asked of those that cried, "What hath befallen this man?" And they replied, "He hath drunk wine, and having slain a man, Is going to the death." Moses began To praise the Maker of the Universe, Seeing that his prayer, though granted, proved perverse, Since God to every living soul sets forth The circumstance according to the worth. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...ODE: THE MEDITERRANEAN by GEORGE SANTAYANA HOME (2) by EDGAR ALBERT GUEST EVEN SO by DANTE GABRIEL ROSSETTI THE DREARY CHANGE by WALTER SCOTT ITYLUS by ALGERNON CHARLES SWINBURNE ON HIS MISTRESS, THE QUEEN OF BOHEMIA by HENRY WOTTON CLIO, NINE ECLOGUES IN HONOUR OF NINE VIRTUES: 3. OF CONTENTMENT by WILLIAM BASSE |