The Dark eyes, so Eastern, and the Blue eyes from the West, The last alight with action, the first so full of rest.
Brown, that seem to hold the Past; its magic mystery, Blue, that catch the early light, of ages yet to be.
Meet and fall and meet again, then linger, look, and smile, Time and distance all forgotten, for a little while.
Happy on the city wall, in the warm spring weather, All the force of Nature's laws, drawing them together.
East and West so gaily blending, for a little space, All the sunshine seems to centre, round th' Enchanted place!
One rides down the dusty road, one watches from the wall, Azure eyes would fain return, and Amber eyes recall;
Would fain be on the ramparts, and resting heart to heart, But time o' love is overpast, East and West must part.
Blue eyes so clear and brilliant! Brown eyes so dark and deep! Those are dim, and ride away, these cry themselves to sleep.
_"Oh, since Love is all so short, the sob so near the smile,_ _Blue eyes that always conquer us, is it worth your while?"_
"Love Lightly"
There were Roses in the hedges, and Sunshine in the sky, Red Lilies in the sedges, where the water rippled by, A thousand Bulbuls singing, oh, how jubilant they were, And a thousand flowers flinging their sweetness on the air.
But you, who sat beside me, had a shadow in your eyes, Their sadness seemed to chide me, when I gave you scant replies; You asked "Did I remember?" and "When had I ceased to care?" In vain you fanned the ember, for the love flame was not there.
"And so, since you are tired of me, you ask me to forget, What is the use of caring, now that you no longer care? When Love is dead his Memory can only bring regret, But how can I forget you with the flowers in your hair?"
What use the scented Roses, or the azure of the sky? They are sweet when Love reposes, but then he had to die. What could I do in leaving you, but ask you to forget,-- I suffered, too, in grieving you; I all but loved you yet.
But half love is a treason, that no lover can forgive, I had loved you for a season, I had no more to give. You saw my passion faltered, for I could but let you see, And it was not I that altered, but Fate that altered me.
And so, since I am tired of love, I ask you to forget, What is the use you caring, now that I no longer care? When Love is dead, his Memory can only bring regret; Forget me, oh, forget me, and my flower-scented hair!
No Rival Like the Past
As those who eat a Luscious Fruit, sunbaked, Full of sweet juice, with zest, until they find It finished, and their appetite unslaked, And so return and eat the pared-off rind;--
We, who in Youth, set white and careless teeth In the Ripe Fruits of Pleasure while they last, Later, creep back to gnaw the cast-off sheath, And find there is no Rival like the Past.
Verse by Taj Mahomed
When first I loved, I gave my very soul Utterly unreserved to Love's control, But Love deceived me, wrenched my youth away And made the gold of life for ever grey. Long I lived lonely, yet I tried in vain With any other Joy to stifle pain; There _is_ no other joy, I learned to know, And so returned to Love, as long ago. Yet I, this little while ere I go hence, Love very lightly now, in self-defence.
Lines by Taj Mahomed
This passion is but an ember Of a Sun, of a Fire, long set; I could not live and remember, And so I love and forget.
You say, and the tone is fretful, That my mourning days were few, You call me over forgetful-- My God, if you only knew!
There is no Breeze to Cool the Heat of Love
The listless Palm-trees catch the breeze above The pile-built huts that edge the salt Lagoon, There is no Breeze to cool the heat of love, No wind from land or sea, at night or noon.
Perfumed and robed I wait, my Lord, for you, And my heart waits alert, with strained delight, My flowers are loath to close, as though they knew That you will come to me before the night.
In the Verandah all the lights are lit, And softly veiled in rose to please your eyes, Between the pillars flying foxes flit, Their wings transparent on the lilac skies.
Come soon, my Lord, come soon, I almost fear My heart may fail me in this keen suspense, Break with delight, at last, to know you near. Pleasure is one with Pain, if too intense.
I envy these: the steps that you will tread, The jasmin that will touch you by its leaves, When, in your slender height, you stoop your head At the low door beneath the palm-thatched eaves.
For though you utterly belong to me, And love has done his utmost 'twixt us twain, Your slightest, careless touch yet seems to be That keen delight so much akin to pain.
The night breeze blows across the still Lagoon, And stirs the Palm-trees till they wave above Our pile-built huts; Oh, come, my Lord, come soon, There is no Breeze to cool the heat of love.
Every time you give yourself to me, The gift seems greater, and yourself more fair, This slight-built, palm-thatched hut has come to be A temple, since, my Lord, you visit there.
And as the water, gurgling softly, goes Among the piles beneath the slender floor; I hear it murmur, as it seaward flows, Of the great Wonder seen upon the shore.
The Miracle, that you should come to me, Whom the whole world, seeing, can but desire, It is as though some White Star stooped to be The messmate of our little cooking fire.
Leaving the Glory of his Purple Skies, And the White Friendship of the Crescent Moon, And yet;--I look into your brilliant eyes, And find content; Oh, come, my Lord, come soon.
Perfumed and robed I wait for you, I wait, The flowers that please you wreathed about my hair, And this poor face set forth in jewelled state, So more than proud since you have found it fair.
My lute is ready, and the fragrant drink Your lips may honour, how it will rejoice Losing its life in yours! the lute I think But wastes the time when I might hear your voice.
But you desired it, therefore I obey. Your slightest, as your utmost, wish or will, Whether it please you to caress or slay, It would please me to give obedience still.
I would delight to die beneath your kiss; I envy that young maiden who was slain, So her warm blood, flowing beneath the kiss, Might ease the wounded Sultan of his pain--
If she loved him as I love you, my Lord. There is no pleasure on the earth so sweet As is the pain endured for one adored; If I lay crushed beneath your slender feet
I should be happy! Ah, come soon, come soon, See how the stars grow large and white above, The land breeze blows across the salt Lagoon, There is no Breeze to cool the heat of love.
Malay Song
The Stars await, serene and white, The unarisen moon; Oh, come and stay with me to-night, Beside the salt Lagoon!
My hut is small, but as you lie, You see the lighted shore, And hear the rippling water sigh Beneath the pile-raised floor.
No gift have I of jewels or flowers, My room is poor and bare: But all the silver sea is ours, And all the scented air
Blown from the mainland, where there grows Th' "Intriguer of the Night," The flower that you have named Tube rose, Sweet scented, slim, and white.
The flower that, when the air is still And no land breezes blow, From its pale petals can distil A phosphorescent glow.
I see your ship at anchor ride; Her "captive lightning" shine. Before she takes to-morrow's tide, Let this one night be mine!
Though in the language of your land My words are poor and few, Oh, read my eyes, and understand, I give my youth to you!
The Temple Dancing Girl
You will be mine; those lightly dancing feet, Falling as softly on the careless street As the wind-loosened petals of a flower, Will bring you here, at the Appointed Hour.
And all the Temple's little links and laws Will not for long protect your loveliness. I have a stronger force to aid my cause, Nature's great Law, to love and to possess!
Throughout those sleepless watches, when I lay Wakeful, desiring what I might not see, I knew (it helped those hours, from dusk to day), In this one thing, Fate would be kind to me.
You will consent, through all my veins like wine This prescience flows; your lips meet mine above, Your clear soft eyes look upward into mine Dim in a silent ecstasy of love.
The clustered softness of your waving hair, That curious paleness which enchants me so, And all your delicate strength and youthful air, Destiny will compel you to bestow!
Refuse, withdraw, and hesitate awhile, Your young reluctance does but fan the flame; My partner, Love, waits, with a tender smile, Who play against him play a losing game.