The Last Words of Al-Hassan

FAREWELL for ever to all I love!
To river and rock, farewell!
To Zoumlah's gloomful cypress-grove,

And Shaarmal's tulipy dell I

To Deenween-Kullaha's light blue bay,

And Oreb's lonely strand!
My race is run — I am called away —

I go to the Lampless Land.

'Llahllu!
I am called away from the light of day

To my tent in the Dark Dark Land;

1 have seen the standard of All stained

With the blood of the Brave and Free,
And the Kaaba's Venerable Stone profaned

By the truculent Wahabee.
O Allah, for the light of another sun,

With my Bazra sword in hand!
But I rave in vain — my course is run —

I go to the Lampless Land.

'LlahHu!
My course is run — my goal is won —

I go to the Dark Dark Land!

Yet, why should I live a day — an hour?

The friends I valued lie low;
My sisters dance in the halls of the Giaour;

My brethren fight for the foe.
None stood by the banner this arm unfurled

Save Kharada's mountain band.
'Tis well that I leave so base a world,

Though to dwell in the Lampless Land —

'LlahHu!
'Tis well that I leave so false a world,

Though to dwell in the Dark Dark Land!

Even she, my loved and lost Ameen,
The moon-white pearl of my soul,

Could pawn her peace for the show and sheen

Of silken Istambbl!
How little did I bode what a year would see

When we parted at Samarkhand —
My bride in the harem of the Osmanlee,

Myself in the Lampless Land!

'Llah Hu!
My bride in the harem of the Osmanlee,

Myself in the Dark Dark Land!

We weep for the Noble who perish young,

Like flowers before their bloom —
The great-souled Few, who, unseen and unsung,

Go down to the charnel's gloom;
But, written on the brow of each, if Man

Could read it and understand,
Is the changeless decree of Heaven's Deewan —

We are born for the Lampless Land!

'Llahllu!
By the dread firman of Heaven's Deewan,

All are born for the Dark Dark Land!

The wasted moon has a marvellous look

Amiddle of the starry hordes —
The heavens, too, shine like a mystic book,

All bright with burning words.
The mists of the dawn begin to dislimn

ZaharaV, castles of sand.
Farewell! — farewell! Mine eyes feel dim —

They turn to the Lampless Land.
'LlahHu!
My heart is weary — mine eyes are dim —

I would rest in the Dark Dark Land!