Page:Poems Davidson.djvu/50

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8
AMIR KHAN.
Rich vases, with sweet incense streaming,
Mirrors a flood of brilliance beaming,
Fountain, and bath, and curling stream,
At every turn before them beam;
And marble pillars, pure and cold,
And glittering roof, inlaid with gold,
And gems and diamonds met his view
In wild and rich profusion too;
And had Amreta's smiles been given,
This place had been the Moslem heaven!

The Prophet paused; while Amir Khan
Gazed, awe-struck, on the wond'rous man,
Al Shinar plucked a pale blue flower,
Which bent beneath the fountain's shower,
Then slowly turned towards Amir Khan,
And placed the treasure in his hand.

"Mark me!" he cried; "this pensive flower,
Gathered at midnight's magic hour,
Will charm each passion of the breast,
And calm each throbbing nerve to rest;
'Twill leave thy bounding bosom warm,
Yet set death's seal upon thy form;
'Twill leave thee stiff, and cold, and pale,
A slumberer 'neath an icy veil,
But still shall Reason's conscious reign
Unbroken, undisturbed, remain,
And thou shalt hear, and feel, and know
Each sigh, each touch, each throb of woe!