Page:The Sacred Books and Early Literature of the East, Volume 08.djvu/90



If so it be that I did break the fast,

Think not I meant it; no! I thought 'twas past---

That day more weary than a sleepless night---

And blessed breakfast-time had come at last!

I never drank of joy's sweet cordial,

But grief's fell hand infused a drop of gall;

Nor dipped my bread in pleasure's piquant salt,

But briny sorrow made me smart withal!

At dawn to tavern-haunts I wend my way,

And with distraught Salendars pass the day;

O Thou! who know'st things secret, and things known,

Grant me Thy grace, that I may learn to pray!

The world's annoys I rate not at one grain,

So I eat once a day I don't complain;

And, since earth's kitchen yields no solid food,

I pester no man with petitions vain.

Never from worldly toils have I been free,

Never for one short moment glad to be!

I served a long apprenticeship to fate,

But yet of fortune gained no mastery.

One hand with Koran, one with wine-cup dight,

I half incline to wrong, and half to right;

The azure-marbled sky looks down on me,

A sorry Muslim, yet not heathen quite.