BENEATH the shadow of a large-leaved plane, Above the ripple of a shallow stream, Beside a cypress-planted cemetery, In a gay-painted trellis-worked kiosk, A company of easy Muslims sat, Enjoying the calm measure of delight God grants the faithful even here on earth. Most pleasantly the bitter berry tastes, Handed by that bright-eyed and neat-limbed boy; Most daintily the long chibouk is filled And almost before emptied, filled again; Or, with a free good-will, from mouth to mouth Passes the cool Nargheelee serpentine. So sit they, with some low occasional word Breaking the silence in itself so sweet, While o'er the neighbouring bridge the caravan Winds slowly in one line interminable Of camel after camel, each with neck Jerked up, as sniffing the far desert air. Then one serene old Turk, with snow-white beard Hanging amid his pistol-hilts profuse, Spoke out -- "Till sunset all the time is ours, And we should take advantage of the chance That brings us here together. This my friend Tells by his shape of dress and peaked cap Where his home lies: he comes from furthest off, So let the round of tales begin with him." Thus challenged, in his thoughts the Persian dived, And, with no waste of faint apologies, Related a plain story of his life, Nothing adventurous, terrible, or strange, But, as he said, a simple incident, That any one there present might have known. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...CASEY AT THE BAT (1) by ERNEST LAWRENCE THAYER ODES: BOOK 2: ODE 4. TO THE HON. CHARLES TOWNSHEND, IN THE COUNTRY by MARK AKENSIDE THE PRAYSE OF LADY PECUNIA by RICHARD BARNFIELD Γενεθλιακον by JOSEPH BEAUMONT |