WHEN the first opal presage of the morn Quickened the east, the good Merwan arose, And by his open tent door knelt and prayed. Now in that pilgrim caravan was one Whose heart was heavy with dumb doubts, whose eyes Drew little balm from slumber. Up and down Night-long he paced the avenues of sand 'Twixt tent and tent, and heard the jackals snarl, The camels moan for water. This one came On Merwan praying, and to him outcried -- (The tortured spirit bursting its sealed fount As doth the brook on Damavend in spring) "How knowest thou that any Allah is?" Swift from the sand did Merwan lift his face, Flung toward the east an arm of knotted bronze, And said, as upward shot a shaft of gold, "@3Dost need a torch to show to thee the dawn?@1" Then prayed again. When on the desert's rim In sudden awful splendor stood the sun, Through all that caravan there was no knee But bowed to Allah. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...IF THE POETS HAD FEARED THE ADVERTISERS by FRANKLIN PIERCE ADAMS A BALLADE OF EVOLUTION by GRANT ALLEN SOLDIERS OF FREEDOM by KATHARINE LEE BATES HARVEST by GERTRUDE RYDER BENNETT BABYLONIAN LYRIC by GORDON BOTTOMLEY THIRD BOOK OF AIRS: SONG 6 by THOMAS CAMPION THE CANTERBURY TALES: THE SUMMONER'S PROLOGUE by GEOFFREY CHAUCER |