 | Songs of Doubt and Dream (Poems) |  |
129
AFRICAN BALLAD.
“O Zanza, daughter of Zansoor, quit plaiting of thy reeds;
Come forth from thy dim-glimmering hut, bedight with plumes and beads.
For now thy father's warriors wait, drawn up in dark array,
Till blood-red on their naked limbs the rising moon shall play.”
Come forth from thy dim-glimmering hut, bedight with plumes and beads.
For now thy father's warriors wait, drawn up in dark array,
Till blood-red on their naked limbs the rising moon shall play.”
“O Nolki, nurse, O trusted nurse, what need have I to go
Where ruddier than the rising moon a brave man's blood will flow?
Nay, tell my sire that here in peace his daughter plaits or spins,
And vainly shall he sound for her his drums of serpent-skins.”
Where ruddier than the rising moon a brave man's blood will flow?
Nay, tell my sire that here in peace his daughter plaits or spins,
And vainly shall he sound for her his drums of serpent-skins.”
130
“O Zanza, daughter of Zanzoor, obey thy father's hest!
For though of all his hundred wives thy mother pleased him best,
His wrath at such rebellious words, from even such lips as thine,
Might shear thy tongue off at the roots and cast it to the swine.”
For though of all his hundred wives thy mother pleased him best,
His wrath at such rebellious words, from even such lips as thine,
Might shear thy tongue off at the roots and cast it to the swine.”
“O Nolki, nurse, this fair strong man, with eyes of heaven's own blue,
Doth statelier stand beside our braves than oak beside bamboo;
Yet they to-night, with toss of spears, with maniac leap and shout,
From his true breast, our gods to sate, would tear his true heart out!”
Doth statelier stand beside our braves than oak beside bamboo;
Yet they to-night, with toss of spears, with maniac leap and shout,
From his true breast, our gods to sate, would tear his true heart out!”
“O Zanza, daughter of Zanzoor, this bright-haired stranger came
With warriors warlike as himself, to whelm our land in shame.
His comrades all save him are slain; alone he waits, this hour
(Chief offering at the moon's full dawn), to please the Moon-God's power.”
With warriors warlike as himself, to whelm our land in shame.
His comrades all save him are slain; alone he waits, this hour
(Chief offering at the moon's full dawn), to please the Moon-God's power.”
131
“O Nolki, nurse, thy speech is false; he fared as friend, not foe;
He did but come our mystic lakes, our shadowing hills to know.
My sire's grim welcome to his band was meaner in its might
Than when below some hurrying heel some snake's quick fang will smite.”
He did but come our mystic lakes, our shadowing hills to know.
My sire's grim welcome to his band was meaner in its might
Than when below some hurrying heel some snake's quick fang will smite.”
“O Zanza, daughter of Zanzoor, thy dusky cheek is wan;
Pray all the gods, thou king-born child, to shield thee from this man!
For though they rend his frame to shreds at rising of the moon,
His memory still may haunt thy life as gnats the sultry noon.”
Pray all the gods, thou king-born child, to shield thee from this man!
For though they rend his frame to shreds at rising of the moon,
His memory still may haunt thy life as gnats the sultry noon.”
“O Nolki, nurse, his heaven-blue eyes have searched my heart so deep
It keeps their radiance like that flame the hearts of fireflies keep!
To burst his bonds, where prone he lay, my longing soul was fierce
As when the storm's pale javelin strives the empurpled cloud to pierce!”
It keeps their radiance like that flame the hearts of fireflies keep!
To burst his bonds, where prone he lay, my longing soul was fierce
As when the storm's pale javelin strives the empurpled cloud to pierce!”
132
“O Zanza, daughter of Zanzoor, what harsh cries meet mine ears?
The Moon-God shall his victim lack when blood-red he appears!
Nay, plait thy reeds no more, dear girl, for clamoring thousands hie
To tax thee with a traitorous crime thou dost not dare deny!”
The Moon-God shall his victim lack when blood-red he appears!
Nay, plait thy reeds no more, dear girl, for clamoring thousands hie
To tax thee with a traitorous crime thou dost not dare deny!”
“O Nolki, nurse, I do not fear; I brake the captive's thrall;
He gave me one warm kiss for thanks—one warm kiss—that was all!
Far hence at this late hour he speeds from hungering death's embrace...
O Nolki, nurse, with glorious joy I greet death in his place!”
He gave me one warm kiss for thanks—one warm kiss—that was all!
Far hence at this late hour he speeds from hungering death's embrace...
O Nolki, nurse, with glorious joy I greet death in his place!”
| Songs of Doubt and Dream (Poems) | |