The Kasidah

The most important change that has been made to appearance of the poem is the restoration of the stanzas to two line couplets. When Burton privately published the original in 1880 it was on quarto sized pages which allowed great width than the usual octavo. You won’t be able to see this format on a mobile phone – four line stanzas will usually appear instead.

SECTION I

The hour is nigh; the waning Queen walks forth to rule the later night;

SECTION II

And when, by solemn rites and vows, the Bridegroom and the Bride are one,

SECTION III

Fie, fie! you visionary things, ye motes that dance in sunny glow,

SECTION IV

There is no Good, there is no Bad; these be the whims of mortal will;

SECTION V

’Tis Nature’s law that still the change of changing things should never cease;

SECTION VI

Thus he: and then a mighty Voice, the Voice of Fate, in thunder spoke:

SECTION VII

And when, as Eastern sages say, the Spirit seeks its natal skies,

SECTION VIII

There is no Heaven, there is no Hell; these be the dreams of baby minds;

SECTION IX

Enough, enough of vain debate! The Truth is one; the True is all;