Marriage Thoughts: by Morsellin Khan

Bridegroom     I give you my house and my lands, all golden with harvest;     My sword, my shield, and my jewels, the spoils of my strife,     My strength and my dreams, and aught I have gathered of glory,     And to-night - to-night, I shall give you my very life.     Bride     I may not raise my eyes, O my Lord, towards you,     And I may not speak: what matter? my voice would fail.     But through my dowacast lashes, feeling your beauty,     I shiver and burn with pleasure beneath my veil.     Younger Sisters     We throw sweet perfume upon her head,     And delicate flowers round her bed.     Ah, would that it were our turn to wed!     Mother     I see my daughter, vaguely, through my tears,     (Ah, lost caresses of my early years!)     I see the bridegroom, King of men in truth!     (Ah, my first lover, and my vanished youth!)     Bride     Almost I dread this night. My senses fail me.     How shall I dare to clasp a thing so dear?     Many have feared your name, but I your beauty.     Lord of my life, be gentle to my fear!     Younger Sisters     In the softest silk is our sister dressed,     With silver rubies upon her breast,     Where a dearer treasure to-night will rest.     Dancing Girls     See! his hair is like silk, and his teeth are whiter     Than whitest of jasmin flowers.    Pity they marry him thus.     I would change my jewels against his caresses.     Verily, sisters, this marriage is greatly a loss to us!     Bride     Would that the music ceased and the night drew round us,     With solitude, shadow, and sound of closing doors,     So that our lips might meet and our beings mingle,     While mine drank deep of the essence, beloved, of yours.     Passing mendicant     Out of the joy of your marriage feast,         Oh, brothers, be good to me.     The way is long and the Shrine is far,         Where my weary feet would be.     And feasting is always somewhat sad         To those outside the door -     Still; Love is only a dream, and Life         Itself is hardly more!