OhmarVerse1to25

1. WAKE ! For the Sun, who scattered into flight
     The Stars before him from the Field of Night,
     Drives Night along with them from Heav'n, and strikes
     The Sultan's Turret with a Shaft of Light.

2. Before the phantom of False morning died,
     Me thought a Voice within the Tavern cried,
     When all the Temple is prepared within,
     Why nods the drowsy Worshiper outside?

3. And, as the Cock crew, those who stood before
     The Tavern shouted -- open then the Door !
     You know how little while we have to stay,
     And, once departed, may return no more.

4.   Now the New Year reviviing old Desires,
      The thoughtful Soul to Solitude retires,
      Where the White hand of moses on the bough.
      Puts out, ans Jesus from the ground suspires.

5.   Iram indeed is gone with all his rose,
      and Jamshyd's Sev'n-ring'd Cup where no one knows;
      But still a Ruby kindles in the vine,
      and many a garden by the water blows.

6.   And David's lips are loclt; but in divine
      High-piping Pehlevi, with wine ! Wine ! Wine!
      Red Wine ! -- the nightingale cries to the Rose
      That sallow cheek of hers to incarnadine/

7.   Come fill the Cup, and in the fire of Spring
      Your Winter garment of Repentance fling'
      The Bird of Time has but a little way
      To flutter -- and the Bird is on the Wing.

8.    Whether at Naishapur or Babylon,
       Whether the cup with sweet or bitter run,
       The Wine of Life keeps oozing drop by drop,
       The leaves of Life keep falling one by one.

9.    Each morn a thousand roses brings, you say:
       Yes, but where leaves the Rose of Yesterday ?
       And this first Summer month that brings the Rose
      Shall take Jamshyd and Kaikobad away.

10   Well, let it take them ! What have we to do
       With Kikobad the Great, or Kaikhosru?
       Let Zal and Rustum bluster as they will,
      Or Hatim call to supper -- heed not you.

11. With me along the strip of Herbage strown
       That just divides the dessert from the sown,
      Where name of Slave and Sultan is forgot --
      And Peace to Mahmud on his golden Throne !

12. A book of verses underneath the bough,
       A Jug of Wine, a loaf of bread -- and thou
      Beside me singing in the Wilderness --
       Oh, Wilderness were paradise enow!

13.   Some for the Glories of the World; and some
        Sigh for the Prophet's Paradise to come;
        Ah, take the Cash, and let the Credits go,
        Nor heed the rumble of a distant drum!

14.   Look to the blowing Rose about us -- Lo,
        Laughing, she says, into the world I blow,
       At once the silken tassel of my Purse
       Tear, and its Treasure on the Garden throw.

15. And those who husbanded the Golden grain,
       And those who flung it to the winds like Rain,
      Alike to no such aureate Earth are turned
       As, buried once, Men want dug up again.

16. The Worldly Hope men set their hearts upon
       Turns ashes - or it prospers; and anon,
       Like Snow upon the Desert's dusty face,
       Lighting a little hour or two - is gone.