Page:Stars of the Desert.djvu/85

 By night, my fancy spreads her wings In visions that console, But all day long, remembered things Are dragging at my soul. I want the silver on the sea, The surf along the shore, The ruined Mosque, whose weeds grow free, Where Princes prayed of yore.

I want the lonely, level sands Stretched out beneath the sun, The sadness of the old, old lands, Whose destiny is done, The glory and the grace, that cling About the mountain crest Where tombs of many a faithless king Guard, faithfully, their rest.

Not lightly would I speak of Love, Or estimate his power, But every star that wheels above, And each enamelled flower That sends persuasive influence To touch the human mind, Appeals to some strange, inner sense That Love can never find.

Love always needs his ally, Youth, Or lost is all his charm; A sunset is a golden truth Nor age nor ill can harm. 73