Quatrains
The bedouins OF THE SKIES
YON clouds that roam the deserts of the air,
On wind-swift barbs, o’er many an azure plain,
Scarce pause to lift to Allah one small prayer,
Ere Ishmael’s spirit drives them forth again.
THE TWO SPIRITS
I DREAMED two spirits came—one dusk as night:
“Mortals miscall me Life,” he sadly saith;
The other, with a smile like morning light,
Flashed his strong wings and spake,
“Men name me Death.”
A CHALLENGE
ARISE, O soul, and gird thee up anew,
Though the black camel Death kneel at thy gate;
No beggar thou that thou for alms shouldst sue;
Be the proud captain still of thine own fate!