Song without a Sound

The Bulbul wail'd, "Oh, Rose! all night I sing,
And Thou, Beloved! utterest not one thing."
"Dear Bird!" she answer'd, "scent and blossoming
Are music of my Song without a sound."

The Cypress to the Tulip spake: "What bliss
Seest thou in sunshine, dancing still like this?"
"My cup," the Tulip said, "the wind's lips kiss;
Dancing I hear the Song without a sound."

The gray Owl hooted to the Dove at morn,
"Why art thou happy on thy jungle-thorn?"
"Hearest thou not," she cooed, "o'er Earth's face borne
This music of the Song without a sound?"

"Ah, Darweesh!" moan'd a King, "Vainly I pray
For Allah's comfort, kneeling day by day."
"Sultan!" quoth he, "be meek, and hear alway
The music of His Mercy without sound."

"Poet!" a Queen sigh'd, "why alone to thee
Come visions of that world we cannot see—
Not great nor rich?" "I borrow minstrelsy,"
Smiling he said, "from Songs without a sound."

Shirin-i-man! dear Lover! true and sweet,
Ask no more if I love, nor kiss my feet;
But hear, with cheek against my bosom's beat,
The music of the Song without a sound!