Song Of The Devoted Slave

A poem by Violet Nicolson, Lawrence Hope, Adela Florence Cory Nicolson (1865 – 1904)

There is one God: Mahomed his Prophet. Had I his power

I would take the topmost peaks of the snow-clad Himalayas,

And would range them around your dwelling, during the heats of summer,

To cool the airs that fan your serene and delicate presence,

Had I the power.

Your courtyard should ever be filled with the fleetest of camels

Laden with inlaid armour, jewels and trappings for horses,

Ripe dates from Egypt, and spices and musk from Arabia.

And the sacred waters of Zem-Zem well, transported thither,

Should bubble and flow in your chamber, to bathe the delicate

Slender and wayworn feet of my Lord, returning from travel,

Had I the power.

Fine woven silk, from the further East, should conceal your beauty,

Clinging around you in amorous folds; caressive, silken,

Beautiful long-lashed, sweet-voiced Persian boys should, kneeling, serve you,

And the floor beneath your sandalled feet should be smooth and golden,

Had I the power.

And if ever your clear and stately thoughts should turn to women,

Kings’ daughters, maidens, should be appointed to your caresses,

That the youth and the strength of my Lord might never be wasted

In light or sterile love; but enrich the world with his children.

Had I the power.

Whilst I should sit in the outer court of the Water Palace

To await the time when you went forth, for Pleasure or Warfare,

Descending the stairs rose crowned, or armed and arrayed in purple,–

To mark the place where your steps have fallen, and kiss the footprints,

Had I the power.

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Poems in English 

• Ольга Берггольц – Озерный край by Ольга Берггольц
• Ольга Берггольц – Ответ by Ольга Берггольц
• Ольга Берггольц – От сердца к сердцу by Ольга Берггольц
• Ольга Берггольц – Осень (Мне осень озёрного края) by Ольга Берггольц
• Ольга Берггольц – Она дарить любила by Ольга Берггольц
• Ольга Берггольц – Огонь, и воду, и медные трубы by Ольга Берггольц
• Ольга Берггольц – Обещание by Ольга Берггольц
• Ольга Берггольц – О, наверное, он не вернётся by Ольга Берггольц
• Ольга Берггольц – О, где ты запела by Ольга Берггольц
• Ольга Берггольц – О да, простые, бедные слова by Ольга Берггольц
• Ольга Берггольц – Новогодний тост by Ольга Берггольц
• Ольга Берггольц – Ни до серебряной и ни до золотой by Ольга Берггольц
• Ольга Берггольц – Не знаю, не знаю, живу by Ольга Берггольц
• Ольга Берггольц – Не сына, не младшего брата by Ольга Берггольц
• Ольга Берггольц – Не может быть, чтоб жили мы напрасно by Ольга Берггольц
• Ольга Берггольц – Наш сад by Ольга Берггольц
• Ольга Берггольц – Нам от тебя теперь не оторваться by Ольга Берггольц
• Ольга Берггольц – Надежда by Ольга Берггольц
• Ольга Берггольц – На Ивана-пьющего by Ольга Берггольц
• Ольга Берггольц – Моя медаль by Ольга Берггольц

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