1. The morning of life declines into the past,
And once it has gone, trace of it will not last.

2. Youth is bliss but fleeting, never staying,
The lad remains while homelands are decaying.

3. In youth man stores all that he'll later dwell on,
When it has gone he'll live on memories alone.

4. Ruins of Baalbek, hail! Though far and razed,
Still glorious are the works your hands have raised.

5. And you aqueducts, though wrecked remain sublime,
Triumphs of skill whose makers mocked old Time!

6. Recall my childhood, bring back to me
Days vanished, sank in life's obscurity!

7. Those days were sweet and passionate by turn
Mingled profit and delight, loss and concern.

8. I walked on hills, no track to guide or bind,
I roamed rejoicing, reason left behind,

9. Free, proud, those crags and steeps treading at will,
With wild birds winging past me down the hill.

10. Alone with Hind, we'd wander through the night,
Love and Desire our fellowship and light,

11. Like butterflies that flit from bloom to bloom,
That roam unfixèd, every flower their home.

12. We'd meet, then part, then reunite once more,
Each speck of dust forever on the soar.

13. And when too long we were kept apart,
Such fire would kindle in my hungry heart!

14. Brief meetings, sudden partings, such our way -
Together, then divided, night and day.

15. No life untouched by sorrow. Joy is made
From troubles past, and peace comes after shade.

16. Each meeting was a feast. We would embrace
As loved ones do returning from th' far place,-

17. Pure kisses, virtuous as the children's kiss,
Or kiss of friend when night's first breezes kiss,

18. That love was cool as waters from a spring
Till manhood made its hidden fires take wing.

19. Dear Hind! How she loved that time, but still
All things must fail; naught stands Time's eroding will.

20. My heart has weakened and my body failed
Ruin knocks now where mirth so late prevailed.

21. Desolate lie the gardens where of old
Were wonders that amazed both young and old.

22. Miracles of art and giant works were there,
The makers we revere beyond compare.

23. Clothed by the sun in gorgeous robes they stood,
Turquoise and ruby gems in gold ensconced.

24. Moistened at night by honey-scented showers,
Lustrous in daylight's most lustrous hours.

25. Old age but added awfulness and weight,
On all Time's gales have poured their flakes of state.

26. Ofttimes white hairs are beauty's perfect crown
When the Lord's might has hammered talent down.

27. A temple of mysteries that structure raised
But its conception was the greatest maze.

28. Copied in each part the skills of every race
Images of wisdom, power and grace.

29. Out of dead stone they made fruits grow up high
By human genius that could scale the sky,

30. Flowers and stars so bright, birds winging by,
Though only carved, they cheat both heart and eye.

31. Set in bright gardens where sweet waters run
As brilliant as the moon, as hot as sun,

32. With lions dreadful when they roar and stir
And show their teeth without a fight to spur.

33. From their grim jaws smoke coils, from eyeballs pour
Red flames, their very silence seems to roar.

34. These were their works; till the last days of earth
Men will flock there to wonder and admire.

35. One mind it was that bound all into one
So closely were those scattered glories spun

36. Into a place where minds as well as eyes
After the Lord, are led to idolize

37. Supreme in rendering beauty, loveliness,
Where hearts are shaken, ravished witnesses.

38. Hail, men of Phoenicia! When this earth is dead
Still your high feats across the sea are spread.

39. Yours is earth's tenure, yours her crown through all
For daring works and wonders ne'er to pall.

40. The untamed ocean manned your ships alone
When steam's force harnessed not one wave its own.

41. Its rage and shrugging strength could not disheart
Your disappearance or dismay depart.

42. Had it attacked, you knew the way to curb
And bring it into order from disturbance.

43. Almost you rode its very waves in sport
As though you'd seize the stars for steering port.

44. Easy to serve one whom the seas accept
Whose name through cities of the waves has crept!

45. Raised to the sun a rich and dazzling hall
Till Romans capped the structure, finished all,

46. Heralded farmers for the growing earth
Spreaders of shelter, succour, light and worth.

47. Carved out secure and lasting monuments
From thinking subtle, skillful and condense.

48. Tamed bronze till it appeared through their hard toil
Arbiter itself of every chance and foil.

49. Bowed down before their works, their gods confessed!
Adoring worship from their wondrous best.

50. Is any further marvel thought to await
Or but the wish from excellence to prate?

51. Seeing such beauty made Hind envious, still
My Hind no need of envy's droops to feel!

52. All lovely idols those dreamers raised up
Are humble bondmaids to your beauty's cup!