Gardens Overseas; And Other Poems (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1917 edition. Excerpt: ... AT MEMORY'S CASEMENT Upon the blossom branch in spring There once would come a bird and sing; There once would sound a mellow song Around my heart the whole night long. Nor ever lark at break of day But took me on its silvery way; Nor nightingale by star and rose But at my heart outpoured its woes. Till now, their voices hushed in tears, With springtime passed adown the years, My heart which hath their message known At Memory's casement sings alone. ALHAMBRA SONGS I The Dream Of Alahmar--"ROUSE thee, Alahmar " cried the Angel's voice, --"Rise, Monarch of Granada, and rejoice That all thy wanderings and warfare passed, Lo, to Alhambra thou art come at lastl Yea, though thy body be with toils outworn--Thy raiment tattered--thy white beard unshorn--Though yet beside thee from the last advance Lie bloody shield, and scimitar, and lance, --Rouse thee and speak thy will --for I, Djabir, ALHAMBRA SONGS Whose holy prescience led thee year by year By devious paths o'er seas and mountain ways, Through craft and bloodshed--all for Allah's praise Lo, I am here to wait thy last behest --" Then spoke Alahmar: "Grant me but to rest, To rest this brain and body waxing old And soon to sink again into the mould--A place of rest, O Prince of spells, Djabir, --Weave thou my dreams into a palace here. Here let its arches swing their fold on fold As on the desert did our tents of old With fringe and blazonment along the brink Of cool oases. Let us drowsing think Its slender pillars are the palmtrees frail That gave us food and shelter without fail. For ornament our sacred carpets use, And tile the walls with burnished golds and blues And shimmering greens to match the peacock plumes ALHAMBRA SONGS That trailed adown the royal garden glooms Of proud Damascus or of...