Idylls and Lyrics of The Nile By H. D. Rawnsley |
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| II. |
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| X. |
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| XIX. |
| XX. |
| XXI. |
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| XXVII. |
| XXVIII. |
| XXIX. |
| XXX. |
| XXXI. |
| XXXII. |
| XXXIII. |
| XXXIV. |
| XXXV. |
| XXXVI. |
| XXXVII. |
| XXXVIII. |
| XXXIX. |
| XL. |
| XLI. | XLI A NILE BOAT-LOAD |
| XLII. |
| XLIII. |
| XLIV. |
| XLV. |
| XLVI. |
| XLVII. |
| XLVIII. |
| XLIX. |
| L. |
| LI. |
| LII. |
| LIII. |
| LIV. |
| LV. |
| LVI. |
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| LIX. |
| LX. |
| LXI. |
| LXII. |
| LXII. |
| LXIV. |
 | Idylls and Lyrics of The Nile |  |
86
XLI A NILE BOAT-LOAD
Down through the morning mist they go,We hear the boat-bird's merry crow,
The turkeys chuckle as they pass,
And o'er the bulwark peers the ass,
While the tall camel in the stern
Looks with a large-eyed grave concern;
The mother, catching up her veil,
Peeps at us from behind the sail,
The girl holds up her coral beads,
Up spring the youngsters' tufted heads;
Against the tiller leans the slave,
Shows his white teeth, his hand doth wave,
And old Shêkh Moosa, fresh from sleep,
Upon his date-fruit's purple heap,
Roused by our Reis's cheery cry,
Gives us ‘God's Peace,’ and so goes by.
But one there is who nothing cares,
Hammad, who, mindful of his prayers,
87
Beside the giant rudder's ledge,
Pours o'er his shoulder's coppery gleam
The silver tribute of the stream,
Ere he asks God to keep away
Satan, ‘accursed with stones’ to-day,
And leaves another morning's fate
To Allah, merciful and great.
| Idylls and Lyrics of The Nile | |