Poems of James Clarence Mangan (Many hitherto uncollected): Centenary edition: Edited, with preface and notes by D. J. O'Donoghue: Introduction by John Mitchel |
 | I. |
| II. |
| III. |
 | IV. |
THE HOWLING SONG OF AL-MOHARA. |
|
| V. |
| VI. |
| VII. |
 | Poems of James Clarence Mangan |  |
THE HOWLING SONG OF AL-MOHARA.
My heart is as a House of Groans
From dusky eve to dawning grey;
Allah, Allah hu!
The glazed flesh on my staring bones
Grows black and blacker with decay;
Allah, Allah hu!
Yet am I none whom Death may slay;
I am spared to suffer and to warn;
Allah, Allah hu!
My lashless eyes are parched to horn
With weeping for my sin alway;
Allah, Allah hu!
For blood, hot blood that no man sees,
The blood of one I slew
Burns on my hands I cry therefóre,
All night long, on my knees,
Evermore,
Allah, Allah hu!
From dusky eve to dawning grey;
Allah, Allah hu!
The glazed flesh on my staring bones
Grows black and blacker with decay;
Allah, Allah hu!
Yet am I none whom Death may slay;
I am spared to suffer and to warn;
Allah, Allah hu!
186
With weeping for my sin alway;
Allah, Allah hu!
For blood, hot blood that no man sees,
The blood of one I slew
Burns on my hands I cry therefóre,
All night long, on my knees,
Evermore,
Allah, Allah hu!
Because I slew him over wine,
Because I struck him down at night,
Allah, Allah hu!
Because he died and made no sign,
His blood is always in my sight;
Allah, Allah hu!
Because I raised my arm to smite
While the foul cup was at his lips,
Allah, Allah hu!
Because I wrought his soul's eclipse
He comes between me and the Light;
Allah, Allah hu!
His is the form my terror sees,
The sinner that I slew;
My rending cry is still therefóre,
All night long, on my knees,
Evermore,
Allah, Allah hu!
Because I struck him down at night,
Allah, Allah hu!
Because he died and made no sign,
His blood is always in my sight;
Allah, Allah hu!
Because I raised my arm to smite
While the foul cup was at his lips,
Allah, Allah hu!
Because I wrought his soul's eclipse
He comes between me and the Light;
Allah, Allah hu!
His is the form my terror sees,
The sinner that I slew;
My rending cry is still therefóre,
All night long, on my knees,
Evermore,
Allah, Allah hu!
Under the all-just Heaven's expanse
There is for me no resting-spot;
Allah, Allah hu!
I dread Man's vengeful countenance,
The smiles of Woman win me not;
Allah, Allah hu!
I wander among graves where rot
The carcases of leprous men;
Allah, Allah hu!
I house me in the dragon's den
Till evening darkens grove and grot;
Allah, Allah hu!
But bootless all!—Who penance drees
Must dree it his life through;
My heartwrung cry is still therefóre,
All night long, on my knees,
Evermore,
Allah, Allah hu!
There is for me no resting-spot;
Allah, Allah hu!
I dread Man's vengeful countenance,
The smiles of Woman win me not;
Allah, Allah hu!
187
The carcases of leprous men;
Allah, Allah hu!
I house me in the dragon's den
Till evening darkens grove and grot;
Allah, Allah hu!
But bootless all!—Who penance drees
Must dree it his life through;
My heartwrung cry is still therefóre,
All night long, on my knees,
Evermore,
Allah, Allah hu!
The silks that swathe my hall deewān
Are damascened with moons of gold;
Allah, Allah hu!
Musk-roses from my Gulistān
Fill vases of Egyptian mould;
Allah, Allah hu!
The Koran's treasures lie unrolled
Near where my radiant night-lamp burns;
Allah, Allah hu!
Around me rows of silver urns
Perfume the air with odours old;
Allah, Allah hu!
But what avail these luxuries?
The blood of him I slew
Burns red on all—I cry therefóre,
All night long, on my knees,
Evermore,
Allah, Allah hu!
Are damascened with moons of gold;
Allah, Allah hu!
Musk-roses from my Gulistān
Fill vases of Egyptian mould;
Allah, Allah hu!
The Koran's treasures lie unrolled
Near where my radiant night-lamp burns;
Allah, Allah hu!
Around me rows of silver urns
Perfume the air with odours old;
Allah, Allah hu!
But what avail these luxuries?
The blood of him I slew
Burns red on all—I cry therefóre,
All night long, on my knees,
Evermore,
Allah, Allah hu!
Can Sultans, can the Guilty Rich
Purchase with mines and thrones a draught,
Allah, Allah hu!
From that Nutulian fount of which
The Conscience-tortured whilome quaffed?
Allah, Allah hu!
Vain dream! Power, Glory, Riches, Craft,
Prove magnets for the Sword of Wrath;
Allah, Allah hu!
Thornplant Man's last and lampless path,
And barb the Slaying Angel's shaft;
Allah, Allah hu!
O! the Bloodguilty ever sees
But sights that make him rue,
As I do now, and cry therefóre,
All night long, on my knees,
Evermore,
Allah, Allah hu!
Purchase with mines and thrones a draught,
Allah, Allah hu!
188
The Conscience-tortured whilome quaffed?
Allah, Allah hu!
Vain dream! Power, Glory, Riches, Craft,
Prove magnets for the Sword of Wrath;
Allah, Allah hu!
Thornplant Man's last and lampless path,
And barb the Slaying Angel's shaft;
Allah, Allah hu!
O! the Bloodguilty ever sees
But sights that make him rue,
As I do now, and cry therefóre,
All night long, on my knees,
Evermore,
Allah, Allah hu!
| Poems of James Clarence Mangan | |