WHAT time o’er Persia ruled that upright Khan
Khosru the Good, in Shiraz lived a man,
A beggar-carle, to whose rough hands were given–
I know not how–a mirror clear as heaven
On beauteous, vernal mornings, and more bright
Than streamlets sparkling in midsummer’s light;
And, strange to say, who so should look therein,
Though uglier than a nightmare dream of sin,
Grew comely as the loveliest shapes we know;
The while–oh, wonder! a fair form and face
Caught straightway somewhat of celestial grace.
Where’er in twilight dusk, or noontide glow
With swift, firm pace or footstep sad and slow,
Where’er he walked through the broad land of palms,
Or yet his lips unclosed to plead for alms,
The beggar held his mystic treasure high
To glass the forms of those who passed him by;
And all who came within that marvel’s range,
Paused spell-bound by the strangely-dazzling change;
Lords, ladies, gazed! the prospect pleased them well;
“Ah, heavens!” they sighed, “how irresistible!”
E’en the coarse hag, foul, wrinkled, and unclean,
Beamed like a blushing virgin of sixteen.
Hearts are transformed with faces; outward beauty
Seems to make quick the inward sense of duty;
For none, of all the charm
(Paul Hamilton Hayne)
More Poetry from Paul Hamilton Hayne:
Paul Hamilton Hayne Poems based on Topics: Light, Fairness, Heaven, Faces, Man, Charm, Change, Sin, Curiosity, Duty- Antonio Melidori (Paul Hamilton Hayne Poems)
- Daphles. An Argive Story (Paul Hamilton Hayne Poems)
- The Mountain Of The Lovers (Paul Hamilton Hayne Poems)
- Songs Of The Imprisoned Naiad (Paul Hamilton Hayne Poems)
- Widderin's Race. Australian. (Paul Hamilton Hayne Poems)
- Ode II (Paul Hamilton Hayne Poems)
Readers Who Like This Poem Also Like:
Based on Topics: Man Poems, Light Poems, Faces Poems, Heaven Poems, Fairness Poems, Sin Poems, Change Poems, Curiosity Poems, Charm Poems, Duty PoemsBased on Keywords: uglier, shiraz, khosru
- Belphegor Addressed To Miss De Chammelay (Jean de La Fontaine Poems)
- The Pastoral, Or Lyric Muse Of Scotland. Canto Second (Hector MacNeill Poems)
- An Oriental Apologue (James Russell Lowell Poems)
- 'Look at The Clock!' : Patty Morgan The Milkmaid's Story (Richard Harris Barham Poems)
- Rachel (John Lawson Stoddard Poems)