VIII

THE KASÎDAH VIII — • — I want not this, I want not that, already sick of Me and Thee; And if we’re both transform’d and changed, what then becomes of Thee and Me? Enough to think such things may be: to say they are not or they are Were folly: leave them all to … Read more

THE KASÎDAH VIII — • — “You all are right, you all are wrong,” we hear the careless Soofi say, “For each believes his glimm’ering lamp to be the gorgeous light of day.” “Thy faith why false, my faith why true? ’tis all the work of Thine and Mine, “The fond and foolish love of … Read more

THE KASÎDAH VIII — • — Rejoins the Moslem: “Allah’s one tho’ with four Moslemahs I wive, “One-wife-men ye and (damnèd race!) you split your God to Three and Five.” The Buddhist to Confucians thus: “Like dogs ye live, like dogs ye die; “Content ye rest with wretched earth; God, Judgment, Hell ye fain defy.” … Read more

THE KASÎDAH VIII — • — What to the Hindu saith the Frank: “Denier of the Laws divine! “However godly-good thy Life, Hell is the home for thee and thine.” “Go strain the draught before ’tis drunk, and learn that breathing every breath, “With every step, with every gest, something of life thou do’est to … Read more

THE KASÎDAH VIII — • — To all that breathe our upper air the hands of Dest’iny ever deal, In fixed and equal parts, their shares of joy and sorrow, woe and weal. “How comes it, then, our span of days in hunting wealth and fame we spend “Why strive we (and all humans strive) … Read more

THE KASÎDAH VIII — • — “Nay”, quoth the Magian, “’tis not so; I draw my wine for one and all, “A cup for this, a score for that, e’en as his measure’s great or small: “Who drinks one bowl hath scant delight; to poorest passion he was born; “Who drains the score must e’er … Read more

THE KASÎDAH VIII — • — While Reason sternly bids us die, Love longs for life beyond the grave: Our hearts, affections, hopes and fears for Life-to-be shall ever crave. Hence came the despot’s darling dream, a Church to rule and sway the State; Hence sprang the train of countless griefs in priestly sway and … Read more

THE KASÎDAH VIII — • — THERE is no Heav’en, there is no Hell; these be the dreams of baby minds; Tools of the wily Fetisheer, to ’fright the fools his cunning blinds. Learn from the mighty Spi’rits of old to set thy foot on Heav’en and Hell; In Life to find thy hell and … Read more