Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE KIOSK: 1, by RICHARD MONCKTON MILNES Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Beneath the shadow of a large-leaved plane Last Line: That any one there present might have known. Alternate Author Name(s): Houghton, 1st Baron; Houghton, Lord Subject(s): Middle East; Story-telling; Near East; Levant | ||||||||
BENEATH the shadow of a large-leaved plane, Above the ripple of a shallow stream, Beside a cypress-planted cemetery, In a gay-painted trellis-worked kiosk, A company of easy Muslims sat, Enjoying the calm measure of delight God grants the faithful even here on earth. Most pleasantly the bitter berry tastes, Handed by that bright-eyed and neat-limbed boy; Most daintily the long chibouk is filled And almost before emptied, filled again; Or, with a free good-will, from mouth to mouth Passes the cool Nargheelee serpentine. So sit they, with some low occasional word Breaking the silence in itself so sweet, While o'er the neighbouring bridge the caravan Winds slowly in one line interminable Of camel after camel, each with neck Jerked up, as sniffing the far desert air. Then one serene old Turk, with snow-white beard Hanging amid his pistol-hilts profuse, Spoke out -- "Till sunset all the time is ours, And we should take advantage of the chance That brings us here together. This my friend Tells by his shape of dress and peaked cap Where his home lies: he comes from furthest off, So let the round of tales begin with him." Thus challenged, in his thoughts the Persian dived, And, with no waste of faint apologies, Related a plain story of his life, Nothing adventurous, terrible, or strange, But, as he said, a simple incident, That any one there present might have known. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...PRINCE ADEB by GEORGE HENRY BOKER TIMOUR'S COUNCILS by REGINALD HEBER ATTRACTIONS OF THE EAST by FELICIA DOROTHEA HEMANS PHYSICAL AND MORAL BLINDNESS by RICHARD MONCKTON MILNES THE THINKER AND THE POET by RICHARD MONCKTON MILNES THE CARAVAN by CLINTON SCOLLARD THE MINSTREL by CLINTON SCOLLARD COLUMBUS AND THE MAYFLOWER by RICHARD MONCKTON MILNES FROM THE IONIAN ISLANDS by RICHARD MONCKTON MILNES |
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