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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• Василий Жуковский – Элизиум by Василий Жуковский
• Василий Жуковский – Дружба by Василий Жуковский
• Василий Жуковский – На смерть Андрея Тургенева by Василий Жуковский
• Василий Жуковский – На первое отречение от престола Бонапарте by Василий Жуковский
• Василий Жуковский – Мщение by Василий Жуковский
• Василий Жуковский – Моя богиня by Василий Жуковский
• Василий Жуковский – Море by Василий Жуковский
• Василий Жуковский – Могущество, слава и благоденствие России by Василий Жуковский
• Василий Жуковский – Младенец: Стих, который легко учится, 28 строк – Стихотворения Жуковского на Poetry Monster by Василий Жуковский
• Василий Жуковский – Мина by Василий Жуковский
• Василий Жуковский – Тоска по милом by Василий Жуковский
• Василий Жуковский – Торжество победителей by Василий Жуковский
• Василий Жуковский – Теснятся все к тебе во храм by Василий Жуковский
• Василий Жуковский – Там небеса и воды ясны by Василий Жуковский
• Василий Жуковский – Светлане by Василий Жуковский
• Василий Жуковский – Суд Божий над епископом by Василий Жуковский
• Вера Павлова – Праздник после праздника by Вера Павлова
• Вера Павлова – Попытка не пытка by Вера Павлова
• Вера Павлова – Поколенье, лишённое почерка и походки by Вера Павлова
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