She saw me in an instant, and stopped short

And the telling of it is this:The Emir Abu Zeyd the Helali Salameh was sitting one morning in his tent with the Arabs of the Beni Helal and the Lords of the tribe. And lo, there appeared before them in the desert the figure of one wandering to and fro alone. And this was Ghanimeh….

I like the joyous morning air,And the crowing of the cocks.I like the calm of the early fields,The ducks asleep by the lake,The quiet hour which Nature yieldsBefore mankind is awake.I like the pheasants and feeding thingsOf the unsuspicious morn;I like the flap of the wood-pigeon’s wingsAs she rises from the corn.I like the blackbird’s…

The things I love have all grown wearisome;The things that loved me are estranged or dead.I have a house most fair, but tenantedWith shadows only, gardens of tall trees,Fenced in and made secure from every dreadBut this one terror, my soul’s lack of ease.I have much wealth of pleasure, horse and hound,Woods broad for sport,…

These are the rains of April which have wetOur fallow hearts and forced their germs to move.Now the green corn has sprouted. Each new dayBrings better pleasures, a more dear surprise,The blade, the ear, the harvest–and our wayLeads through a region wealthy grown and wise.We now compare our fortunes. Each his storeDisplays to kindred eyes…

All night long at this sad grating,Sleepless like a prisoned bird,Singing low,Singing slow:Come, ah come, love.–Not a word!Love, in vain for thee this tokenDid I tie, poor silken cord,To my window. See, ’tis brokenAnd the strands fly heavenward.All are free,All but me.Come, ah come, love.–Not a word!Lo, the first sad streak of morningCleaves the heaven…

“You see I am not angry. Do you not?Only soft–hearted, and alas! too good.Why did you follow me?” She took my handWith a sudden action so devoid of guileThat I, who could not choose but understand,Was softened too and fooled into a smile.“Why did you follow me? Here, feel,” she said,“How my heart beats. It…