Three Songs of Zahir-u-Din

The tropic day's redundant charms         Cool twilight soothes away,     The sun slips down behind the palms         And leaves the landscape grey.         I want to take you in my arms         And kiss your lips away!     I wake with sunshine in my eyes         And find the morning blue,     A night of dreams behind me lies         And all were dreams of you!         Ah, how I wish the while I rise,         That what I dream were true.     The weary day's laborious pace,         I hasten and beguile     By fancies, which I backwards trace         To things I loved erstwhile;         The weary sweetness of your face,         Your faint, illusive smile.     The silken softness of your hair         Where faint bronze shadows are,     Your strangely slight and youthful air,         No passions seem to mar, -         Oh, why, since Fate has made you fair,         Must Fortune keep you far?     Thus spent, the day so long and bright         Less hot and brilliant seems,     Till in a final flare of light         The sun withdraws his beams.         Then, in the coolness of the night,         I meet you in my dreams!