REMINISCENCE OF MAHOMED AKRAM
translated into English by: Laurence Hope (1865-1904)
- SHALL never forget you, never. Never escape
- Your memory woven about the beautiful things of life.
- The sudden Thought of your Face is like a Wound
- When it comes unsought
- On some scent of Jasmin, Lilies, or pale Tuberose,
- Any one of the sweet white fragrant flowers,
- Flowers I used to love and lay in your hair.
-
- Sunset is terribly sad. I saw you stand
- Tall against the red and the gold like a slender palm;
- The light wind stirred your hair as you waved your hand,
- Waved farewell, as ever, serene and calm,
- To me, the passion-wearied and tost and torn,
- Riding down the road in the gathering grey.
- Since that day
- The sunset red is empty, the gold forlorn.
- Often across the Banqueting board at nights
- Men linger about your name in careless praise--
- The name that cuts deep into my soul like a knife;
- And the gay guest-faces and flowers and leaves and lights
- Fade away from the failing sense in a haze,
- And the music sways
- Far away in unmeasured distance. . . .
- I cannot forget--
- I cannot escape. What are the Stars to me?
- Stars that meant so much, too much, in my youth;
- Stars that sparkled about your eyes,
- Made a radiance round your hair,
- What are they now?
- Lingering lights of a Finished Feast,
- Little lingering sparks rather,
- Of a Light that is long gone out.
"Reminiscence of Mahomed Akram" is reprinted from India's Love Lyrics. Trans. Laurence Hope. New York: John Lane Co., 1906. |
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