1. What ails this troubled heart that it should grieve
At death, when death is sure to all that live?

2. Great cause indeed that one of gifts so rare
As poet should be called “The Freedman’s Heir”

3. Shall I console a tribe, or household mourn
When all Arabia for him makes mourn?

4. Read ye his verse and magic arts discern:
The sunrise born of poetry can burn

5. He dared to do what law of self denied
And stake fair clusters of the vine of pride.

6. His pearl of Pearl is set in golden band
And braided like to Ja’far’s signet-wand.

7. How oft his lyrics hold th’ enraptured ear
Till voice and instrument responsive bear!

8. Genius conjoined in him twin powers of grace
To bring two literatures face to face

9. His speech is “Bedouin”–marvel ye at this?
When all its worth is purest Arabist!

10. Strange is the charge of “strangeness” here, I wis
Alike remote from truth and righteousness!

11. No stranger he amongst his kith and kin
But strange, that one so Arab-souled has been

12. To seize spoil from its mine–shall he be blamed
Because among his people he is famed?

13. For puissant Arabic prepared the way
To give his genius freest, fullest sway

14. What mean they by their cavil, when his art
Speaks not the language graven on their heart?

15. ’Tis Resurrection! barred from no man’s tomb
’Tis the illumined goal of every thoughtful gloom

16. ’Tis the vast parliament whose members are
Those that have dipped pen or in speaking share!

17. If to her due this age has failed–then weep
O’er mother-ohild unduly doomed to sleep!

18. God rest his soul, that worthy sage and chief
Whose loss she mourned with many a bitter grief

19. What shaft could strike so sure, what archer’s hand
Could speed an arrow so direct, so well-plann’d?

20. Question his betters grown to man’s estate
And boys who still are schooling–Ask of them

21. His meed of praise, his teacher’s pride and care
How he resigned the sportive hours of youth

22. To toil unselfishly and lead aright–
Reckless what trouble to himself it brought

23. Or whatprivations–all his care and thought
Were for their shaping. Nobly he sustained

24. A nature far too proud to stoop or feign
Simple his habits were; his way of life

25. Was rid of all that gendereth distrust and strife
For, lacking conduct sound instruction will

26. Surely be found unprofitable still
He scorned in learning’s cause all worldly greed

27. And ne’er forbore the advantage of their need
Free in opinion–nor could threat’ning fate

28. Or lure of gain his judgment ever bait
True, whate’er charge his honor might incur–

29. Sincere, though specious pleas his acts might blur
His household knew him for a righteous guide

30. And choice companion–clean and dignified–
He set men in the station merit wins

31. Though highest claim might miss of place with him,
And showed contentment with God’s acts that fall

32. In abasement or glory on mankind all.
This world is naught to freeman. His noblesse

33. Shows not in worldly gear but its address.
Most free of men he counts his lineage, who

34. Draws his patent of pride his soul unto
Thou Trav’ller hark! what mean these words of dole?

35. What grief o’er-comes thee that thou weep’st so sore
In Cairo dust? On every Arab soul

36. War’s plague has come–Oh would ’twere plague, no more
In Aden thou shalt win enduring meed

37. Make God content–be tranquil and give heed!