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raiment； soft as cygnet…down。 My hair shall braid thy temples like a crown
Of sapphires； and my kiss upon thy brows Like cithar…music lull thee to
repose； Till the sun yield thee homage of his light。
O king； thy kingdom who from thee can wrest？ What fate shall dare
uncrown thee from this breast； O god…born lover； whom my love doth gird
And armour with impregnable delight Of Hope's triumphant keen flame…
carven sword？
THE QUEEN'S RIVAL
QUEEN Gulnaar sat on her ivory bed； Around her countless treasures
were spread；
Her chamber walls were richly inlaid With agate； porphory； onyx and
jade；
The tissues that veiled her delicate breast； Glowed with the hues of a
lapwing's crest；
But still she gazed in her mirror and sighed 〃O King； my heart is
unsatisfied。〃
King Feroz bent from his ebony seat： 〃Is thy least desire unfulfilled； O
Sweet？
〃Let thy mouth speak and my life be spent To clear the sky of thy
discontent。〃
〃I tire of my beauty； I tire of this Empty splendour and shadowless
bliss；
〃With none to envy and none gainsay； No savour or salt hath my
dream or day。〃
Queen Gulnaar sighed like a murmuring rose： 〃Give me a rival； O
King Feroz。〃
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THE GOLDEN THRESHOLD
II
King Feroz spoke to his Chief Vizier： 〃Lo！ ere to…morrow's dawn be
here；
〃Send forth my messengers over the sea； To seek seven beautiful
brides for me；
〃Radiant of feature and regal of mien； Seven handmaids meet for the
Persian Queen。〃
。。。。。
Seven new moon tides at the Vesper call； King Feroz led to Queen
Gulnaar's hall
A young queen eyed like the morning star： 〃I bring thee a rival； O
Queen Gulnaar。〃
But still she gazed in her mirror and sighed： 〃O King； my heart is
unsatisfied。〃
Seven queens shone round her ivory bed； Like seven soft gems on a
silken thread；
Like seven fair lamps in a royal tower； Like seven bright petals of
Beauty's flower
Queen Gulnaar sighed like a murmuring rose 〃Where is my rival； O
King Feroz？〃
III
When spring winds wakened the mountain floods； And kindled the
flame of the tulip buds； When bees grew loud and the days grew long； And
the peach groves thrilled to the oriole's song；
Queen Gulnaar sat on her ivory bed； Decking with jewels her exquisite
head；
And still she gazed in her mirror and sighed： 〃O King； my heart is
unsatisfied。〃
Queen Gulnsar's daughter two spring times old； In blue robes bordered
with tassels of gold；
Ran to her knee like a wildwood fay； And plucked from her hand the
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THE GOLDEN THRESHOLD
mirror away。
Quickly she set on her own light curls Her mother's fillet with fringes
of pearls；
Quickly she turned with a child's caprice And pressed on the mirror a
swift； glad kiss。
Queen Gulnaar laughed like a tremulous rose： 〃Here is my rival； O
King Feroz。〃
THE POET TO DEATH
Tarry a while； O Death； I cannot die While yet my sweet life burgeons
with its spring； Fair is my youth； and rich the echoing boughs Where
dhadikulas sing。
Tarry a while； O Death； I cannot die With all my blossoming hopes
unharvested； My joys ungarnered； all my songs unsung； And all my tears
unshed。
Tarry a while； till I am satisfied Of love and grief； of earth and altering
sky； Till all my human hungers are fulfilled； O Death； I cannot die！
THE INDIAN GIPSY
In tattered robes that hoard a glittering trace Of bygone colours；
broidered to the knee； Behold her； daughter of a wandering race； Tameless；
with the bold falcon's agile grace； And the lithe tiger's sinuous majesty。
With frugal skill her simple wants she tends； She folds her tawny
heifers and her sheep On lonely meadows when the daylight ends； Ere the
quick night upon her flock descends Like a black panther from the caves
of sleep。
Time's river winds in foaming centuries Its changing； swift；
irrevocable course To far off and incalculable seas； She is twin…born with
primal mysteries； And drinks of life at Time's forgotten source。
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THE GOLDEN THRESHOLD
TO MY CHILDREN
Jaya Surya； aetat 4
Golden sun of victory； born In my life's unclouded morn； In my
lambent sky of love； May your growing glory prove Sacred to your
consecration； To my heart and to my nation。 Sun of victory； may you be
Sun of song and liberty。
Padmaja； aetat 3
Lotus…maiden； you who claim All the sweetness of your name；
Lakshmi； fortune's queen； defend you； Lotus…born like you； and send you
Balmy moons of love to bless you； Gentle joy…winds to caress you。 Lotus…
maiden； may you be Fragrant of all ecstasy。
Ranadheera； aetat 2
Little lord of battle； hail In your newly…tempered mail！ Learn to
conquer； learn to fight In the foremost flanks of right； Like Valmiki's
heroes bold； Rubies girt in epic gold。 Lord of battle； may you be； Lord of
love and chivalry。
Lilamani； aetat 1
Limpid jewel of delight Severed from the tender night Of your
sheltering mother…mine； Leap and sparkle； dance and shine； Blithely and
securely set In love's magic coronet。 Living jewel； may you be Laughter…
bound and sorrow…free。
THE PARDAH NASHIN
Her life is a revolving dream Of languid and sequestered ease； Her
girdles and her fillets gleam Like changing fires on sunset seas； Her
raiment is like morning mist； Shot opal； gold and amethyst。 From
thieving light of eyes impure； From coveting sun or wind's caress； Her
days are guarded and secure Behind her carven lattices； Like jewels in a
turbaned crest； Like secrets in a lover's breast。
But though no hand unsanctioned dares Unveil the mysteries of her
grace； Time lifts the curtain unawares； And Sorrow looks into her face 。 。 。
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THE GOLDEN THRESHOLD
Who shall prevent the subtle years； Or shield a woman's eyes from tears？
TO YOUTH
O Youth； sweet comrade Youth； wouldst thou be gone？ Long have we
dwelt together； thou and I； Together drunk of many an alien dawn； And
plucked the fruit of many an alien sky。
Ah； fickle friend； must I； who yesterday Dreamed forwards to long；
undimmed ecstasy； Henceforward dream； because thou wilt not stay；
Backward to transient pleasure and to thee？
I give thee back thy false； ephemeral vow； But； O beloved comrade；
ere we part； Upon my mournful eyelids and my brow Kiss me who hold
thine image in my heart。
NIGHTFALL IN THE CITY OF HYDERABAD
See how the speckled sky burns like a pigeon's throat； Jewelled with
embers of opal and peridote。
See the white river that flashes and scintillates； Curved like a tusk
from the mouth of the city…gates。
Hark； from the minaret； how the muezzin's call Floats like a battle…flag
over the city wall。
From trellised balconies； languid and luminous Faces gleam； veiled in
a splendour voluminous。
Leisurely elephants wind through the winding lanes； Swinging their
silver bells hung from their silver chains。
Round the high Char Minar sounds of gay cavalcades Blend with the
music of cymbals and serenades。
Over the city bridge Night comes majestical； Borne like a queen to a
sumptuous festival。
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