Nature
The World: a Ghazel
From The Oxford Book of Victorian Verse (1912)
To this khan, and from this khan
How many pilgrims came and went too!
In this khan, and by this khan
What arts were spent, what hearts were rent too!
To this khan and from this khan
(Which, for penance, man is sent to)
Many a van and caravan
Crowded came, and shrouded went too.
Christian man and Mussulman,
Guebre, heathen, Jew, and Gentoo,
To this khan, and from this khan,
Weeping came, and sleeping went too.
A riddle this since time began,
Which many a sage his mind hath bent to:
All came, all went; but never man
Knew whence they came, or where they went to!
Cite this poem
MLA
Mangan, James Clarence. “The World: a Ghazel.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/mangan/18/.
Chicago
Mangan, James Clarence. “The World: a Ghazel.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/mangan/18/.
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